Pharma Looks To America First: US FDA Holds Overwhelming Lead Over EMA In Novel Approvals

A Pink Sheet analysis finds US approval preceded European Union clearance for 80% of products approved in both areas, but when EU approval came first, it beat the FDA by a median of 13 months. US-first approvals came close to six months before the EU.

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NOVEL DRUGS FOLLOW DIFFERENT REGULATORY ROADS IN THE US AND EUROPE, BUT ONE IS FASTER. • Source: Shutterstock

The US first-approver advantage over the European Union remains stark, with eight of ten novel agents first cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration, according to a Pink Sheet analysis of recent novel approvals by the FDA and European Medicines Agency.

Key Takeaways

  • The FDA and European Union’s novel approvals in 2023 through April 2024 included 48 drugs cleared in both regions and 37 approved by the FDA first.

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