Many cancer drugs remain unproven 5 years after accelerated approval, a study finds

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s accelerated approval program is meant to give patients early access to promising drugs. In a new study, researchers found that most cancer drugs granted accelerated approval do not demonstrate such benefits within five years. “Five years after the initial accelerated approval, you should have a definitive answer,” said Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, a cancer specialist and bioethicist at the University of Pennsylvania who was not involved in the research.