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Polak TB, Cucchi DGJ, Schelhaas J, Ahmed SS, Khoshnaw N, van Rosmalen J, Uyl-de Groot CA. Results from Expanded Access Programs: A Review of Academic Literature. Drugs 2023:10.1007/s40265-023-01879-4. [PMID: 37199856 DOI: 10.1007/s40265-023-01879-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although expanded access is an increasingly used pathway for patients to access investigational medicine, little is known on the magnitude and content of published scientific research collected via expanded access. METHODS We performed a review of all peer-reviewed expanded access publications between January 1, 2000 and January 1, 2022. We analyzed the publications for drugs, diseases, disease area, patient numbers, time, geographical location, subject, and research methodology (single center/multicenter, international/national, prospective/retrospective). We additionally analyzed endpoints reported in all COVID-19-related expanded access publications. RESULTS We screened 3810 articles and included 1231, describing 523 drugs for 354 diseases for 507,481 patients. The number of publications significantly increased over time ([Formula: see text]). Large geographical disparities existed as Europe and the Americas accounted for 87.4% of all publications, whereas Africa only accounted for 0.6%. Oncology and hematology accounted for 53% of all publications. Twenty-nine percent of all expanded access patients (N = 197,187) reported on in 2020 and 2021 were treated in the context of COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS By summarizing characteristics of patients, diseases, and research methods described in all scientific literature published on expanded access, we provide a unique dataset for future research. We show that published scientific research on expanded access has surged over the past decades, partly due to COVID-19. However, international collaboration and equity in geographic access remain an issue of concern. Lastly, we stress the need for harmonization of research legislation and guidance on the value of expanded access data within real-world data frameworks to improve equity in patient access and streamline future expanded access research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias B Polak
- Real-World Data Department, myTomorrows, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Department of Biostatistics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
- Erasmus School of Health Policy and Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - David G J Cucchi
- Department of Hematology, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Internal Medicine, Franciscus Gasthuis & Vlietland, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jasmin Schelhaas
- Real-World Data Department, myTomorrows, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Syed S Ahmed
- Real-World Data Department, myTomorrows, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Naima Khoshnaw
- Real-World Data Department, myTomorrows, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joost van Rosmalen
- Department of Biostatistics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Carin A Uyl-de Groot
- Erasmus School of Health Policy and Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Rothermundt C, Andreou D, Blay JY, Brodowicz T, Desar IME, Dileo P, Gelderblom H, Haas R, Jakob J, Jones RL, Judson I, Kunz WG, Liegl-Atzwanger B, Lindner LH, Messiou C, Miah AB, Reichardt P, Szkandera J, van der Graaf WTA, van Houdt WJ, Wardelmann E, Hofer S. Controversies in the management of patients with soft tissue sarcoma: Recommendations of the Conference on State of Science in Sarcoma 2022. Eur J Cancer 2023; 180:158-179. [PMID: 36599184 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2022.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Owing to the rarity and heterogeneity in biology and presentation, there are multiple areas in the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of soft tissue sarcoma (STS), with no, low-level or conflicting evidence. METHODS During the first Consensus Conference on the State of Science in Sarcoma (CSSS), we used a modified Delphi process to identify areas of controversy in the field of sarcoma, to name topics with limited evidence-based data in which a scientific and knowledge gap may remain and a consensus statement will help to guide patient management. We determined scientific questions which need to be addressed in the future in order to generate evidence and to inform physicians and caregivers in daily clinical practice in order to improve the outcomes of patients with sarcoma. We conducted a vote on STS key questions and controversies prior to the CSSS meeting, which took place in May 2022. RESULTS Sixty-two European sarcoma experts participated in the survey. Sixteen strong consensus (≥95%) items were identified by the experts, as well as 30 items with a ≥75% consensus on diagnostic and therapeutic questions. Ultimately, many controversy topics remained without consensus. CONCLUSIONS In this manuscript, we summarise the voting results and the discussion during the CSSS meeting. Future scientific questions, priorities for clinical trials, registries, quality assurance, and action by stakeholders are proposed. Platforms and partnerships can support innovative approaches to improve management and clinical research in STS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Rothermundt
- Department of Medical Oncology and Haematology, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
| | - Dimosthenis Andreou
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Jean-Yves Blay
- Department of Medicine, Léon Bérard Center, Lyon, France
| | - Thomas Brodowicz
- Department of Medical Oncology, General Hospital - Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ingrid M E Desar
- Department of Medical Oncology, Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Palma Dileo
- London Sarcoma Service, Department of Oncology, University College Hospital London, United Kingdom
| | - Hans Gelderblom
- Department of Medical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Rick Haas
- Department of Radiotherapy, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam and the Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Jens Jakob
- Sarcoma Unit, Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Robin L Jones
- Royal Marsden Hospital and Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ian Judson
- The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Wolfgang G Kunz
- Department of Radiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Lars H Lindner
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Christina Messiou
- Department of Radiology, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Aisha B Miah
- Department of Radiotherapy, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Reichardt
- Department of Oncology and Palliative Care, Helios Klinikum Berlin-Buch, Berlin, Germany
| | - Joanna Szkandera
- Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | | | - Winan J van Houdt
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Eva Wardelmann
- Gerhard-Domagk-Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Silvia Hofer
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Polak TB, Cucchi DGJ, van Rosmalen J, Uyl-de Groot CA, Darrow JJ. Generating Evidence from Expanded Access Use of Rare Disease Medicines: Challenges and Recommendations. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:913567. [PMID: 35677436 PMCID: PMC9168458 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.913567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with rare diseases often have limited or no options for approved treatments or participation in clinical trials. In such cases, expanded access (or “compassionate use”) provides a potential means of accessing unapproved investigational medicines. It is also possible to capture and analyze clinical data from such use, but doing so is controversial. In this perspective, we offer examples of evidence derived from expanded access programs for rare diseases to illustrate its potential value to the decision-making of regulators and payers in the European Union and the United States. We discuss ethical and regulatory aspects to the use of expanded access data, with a focus on rare disease medicines. The heterogeneous approach to expanded access among countries within the European Union leaves uncertainties to what extent data can be collected and analyzed. We recommend the issuance of new guidance on data collection during expanded access, harmonization of European pathways, and an update of existing European compassionate use guidance. We hereby aim to clarify the supportive role of expanded access in evidence generation. Harmonization across Europe of expanded access regulations could reduce manufacturer burdens, improve patient access, and yield better data. These changes would better balance the need to generate quality evidence with the desire for pre-approval access to investigational medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias B Polak
- Erasmus School of Health Policy and Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands.,Department of Biostatistics, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands.,Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands.,Real-World Data Department, myTomorrows, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - David G J Cucchi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Franciscus Gasthuis & Vlietland, Rotterdam, Netherlands.,Department of Hematology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Joost van Rosmalen
- Department of Biostatistics, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands.,Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Carin A Uyl-de Groot
- Erasmus School of Health Policy and Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jonathan J Darrow
- Department of Law and Taxation, Bentley University, Waltham, MA, United States.,Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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