1. Pink Sheet
  2. >>Pathways & Standards
  3. >>Approval Standards

Rethinking Oncology Development: Master Protocols May Shorten Time To Approval

Master protocols that allow for the simultaneous study of multiple agents will shave more time off in the clinic than one-off studies in small groups of patients, FDA’s Janet Woodcock predicted. The current timeframes in oncology development are “unacceptable,” and can be shortened, she said, by “doing things differently.”

FDA Center for Drug Evaluation & Research Director Janet Woodcock, MD, gave some advice to drug developers looking to shorten the clinical development time for new treatments, particularly in oncology: it will be participation in innovative combination trials that will really cut development time – not simply conducting smaller, shorter studies of single agents.

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on Pink Sheet for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required
Start Free Trial

Already a subscriber?

More from Approval Standards

US FDA Shows Support For Generic Drug User Fee Goals Amid Cutbacks

 
• By Michael McCaughan

The FDA struck an upbeat tone during its annual Generic Drugs Forum despite an unprecedented period of cutbacks and disruptions and reiterated a desire to continue meeting user fee goals.

US FDA’s Makary Floats Vague ‘Plausible Mechanism’ Approval Pathway For Rare Diseases

 
• By Sarah Karlin-Smith

Ascertaining the novelty and benefits of Makary’s new drug approval idea – along with what it would take to implement it – requires more clarity on the types of studies he envisions being used to grant and confirm “plausible mechanism’ approvals.

New EU Approvals

 
• By Neena Brizmohun

The Pink Sheet's list of EU centralized approvals of new active substances has been updated to include four new products, one of which is Tivdak, Pfizer/Genmab’s treatment for previously treated recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer.

Industry Keen On ‘Stepwise’ PIPs, But Future Hinges On EU Pharma Legislation Reform

 
• By Eliza Slawther

Industry feedback on a European Medicines Agency pilot that introduced a “stepwise” approach to pediatric investigation plans was positive, but the future of the new model will depend on the outcome of the pharmaceutical legislation negotiations, the agency says.

More from Pathways & Standards

US FDA User Fee Collection Safe In Preliminary Trump 2026 Budget Plan

 
• By Cathy Kelly

The preliminary White House 2026 budget plan cuts agency funding, but not so sharply that user fees are excluded from collection.

New EU Approvals

 
• By Neena Brizmohun

The Pink Sheet's list of EU centralized approvals of new active substances has been updated to include four new products, one of which is Tivdak, Pfizer/Genmab’s treatment for previously treated recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer.

Industry Keen On ‘Stepwise’ PIPs, But Future Hinges On EU Pharma Legislation Reform

 
• By Eliza Slawther

Industry feedback on a European Medicines Agency pilot that introduced a “stepwise” approach to pediatric investigation plans was positive, but the future of the new model will depend on the outcome of the pharmaceutical legislation negotiations, the agency says.