Patients need better treatments, not just more of the same

A well functioning drug development system, including legislation to generate innovative treatments that target unmet needs of patients, is an important means of improving public health. Given the complexity of drug development, the number of resources involved, and the economic implications for both the pharmaceutical industry and healthcare systems, debate is ongoing about how to optimise outcomes. One approach is to use a drug not only for one disease (the first approved indication) but also, where possible, for other diseases (supplemental indications).

The linked study by Vokinger and colleagues (doi:10.1136/bmj-2022-074166) on the added therapeutic value of first versus supplemental indications of drugs in the US and Europe reports the disappointing results of current drug development efforts.1 Less than half of approved first indications of new drugs add value over existing treatments. Supplemental indications add even …