The burden of cancer is increasing in Europe, which accounts for a tenth of the world’s population but a quarter of cancer cases recorded worldwide.
In the EU, without decisive action, lives lost to cancer are set to increase by more than 24% by 2035, according to the European Commission's 'Beating cancer plan'.
To help combat this threat, EMA is exploring how to improve medicine evaluation by using cancer as a pathfinder.
Launched in 2023, Cancer Medicines Pathfinder could have a meaningful impact for patient care and access to innovative therapies.
For more information on cancer medicines and the burden of cancer in Europe, see:
Pathfinder initiatives
EMA's Cancer Medicines Pathfinder groups its initiatives under three pillars:
- Accelerate development and assessment of cancer medicines critical to patient care
- Strengthen multi-stakeholder dialogue and international collaboration
- Optimise communication, including on benefits and risks of medicines
Accelerate development and assessment of cancer medicines critical to patient care
The Cancer Medicine Pathfinder builds on the European medicines regulatory network's experience in responding and adapting to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Key to this response was to accelerate development and assessment on COVID-19 medicines.
For more information on EMA's role in tackling COVID-19, see:
Strengthen multi-stakeholder dialogue and international collaboration
EMA's collaboration with the United States (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is an example of both multi-stakeholder dialogue and international collaboration.
EMA exchanges information with FDA and promotes its projects in areas such as oncology education and patient engagement.
For more information, see:
Optimise communication, including on benefits and risks of medicines
EMA launched a monthly newsletter featuring related news, regulatory actions and activities in oncology.
For more information, see: