The accelerated approval pathway for new drugs in the United States is often praised but faces growing criticism of whether it is finding the appropriate balance between uncertainty, access and cost. To support efforts to strengthen the pathway, this paper provides an analysis of key concerns and the advantages and disadvantages of ten potential policy reforms – those achievable through the US FDA action alone, and those that would require a combination of government, payer and life science industry actions. Accelerated approval sits at the heart of many of the controversies regarding drug approvals and pricing, and this analysis provides perspectives on how best to strengthen the pathway within the broader landscape of an innovative US healthcare system.
