In 2016, four new anticancer drugs were approved by the FDA, and a further 12 existing agents were approved for 14 additional indications. Each one of these drugs is associated with

important clinical benefits, but at an average monthly cost of ∼US$9,000. Here, I discuss the cost–benefit considerations related to these treatments and contemplate future economic

prospects. Access through your institution Buy or subscribe This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution ACCESS OPTIONS Access through your institution Access

Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription $32.99 / 30 days cancel any time Learn more Subscribe to this journal Receive 12 print

P. & Mahmoud, S. Development and economic trends in cancer therapeutic drugs: a 5-year update 2010–2014. _Br. J. Cancer_ 112, 1037–1041 (2015). Article  CAS  Google Scholar  * Light, D.

W. & Kantarjian, H. Market spiral pricing of cancer drugs. _Cancer_ 119, 3900–3902 (2013). Article  Google Scholar  * Kantarjian, H., Steensma, D., Rius, S. J., Elshaug, A. & Light,

D. High cancer drug prices in the United States: reasons and proposed solutions. _J. Oncol. Pract._ 10, e208–e211 (2014). Article  Google Scholar  * US Food and Drug Administration.

Hematology/oncology (cancer) approvals and safety notifications. _FDA_ http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/InformationOnDrugs/ApprovedDrugs/ucm279174.htm (2016). * Stilgenbauer, S. _ et al_. Venetoclax

in relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukaemia with 17p deletion: a multicentre, open-label, phase 2 study. _Lancet Oncol._ 17, 768–778 (2016). Article  CAS  Google Scholar  *

Rosenberg, J. E. _ et al_. Atezolizumab in patients with locally advanced and metastatic urothelial carcinoma who have progressed following treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy: a

single-arm, multicentre, phase 2 trial. _Lancet_ 387, 1909–1920 (2016). Article  CAS  Google Scholar  * Tap, W. D. _ et al_. Olaratumab and doxorubicin versus doxorubicin alone for treatment

of soft-tissue sarcoma: an open-label phase 1b and randomised phase 2 trial. _Lancet_ 388, 488–497 (2016). Article  CAS  Google Scholar  * US Food and Drug Administration. Highlights of

prescribing information for RUBRACA. _FDA_ http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2016/209115s000lbl.pdf (2016). * Kaufman, B. _ et al_. Olaparib monotherapy in patients with

advanced cancer and a germline BRCA1/2 mutation. _J. Clin. Oncol._ 20, 244–250 (2015). Article  Google Scholar  * Dimopoulos, M. A. _ et al_. Daratumumab, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone for

multiple myeloma. _N. Engl. J. Med._ 375, 1319–1331 (2016). Article  CAS  Google Scholar  * Palumbo, A. _ et al_. Daratumumab, bortezomib, and dexamethasone for multiple myeloma. _N. Engl.

J. Med._ 375, 754–366 (2016). Article  CAS  Google Scholar  * Truven Health Analytics. Red book, a comprehensive, consistent drug pricing resource. _Micromedex_

http://micromedex.com/products/product-suites/clinical-knowledge/redbook (2017). Download references AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Department of Medical Oncology, Brighton

and Sussex University Hospitals, Eastern Road, BN2 5BE, Brighton, UK Philip Savage Authors * Philip Savage View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google

Scholar CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Correspondence to Philip Savage. ETHICS DECLARATIONS COMPETING INTERESTS The author declares no competing financial interests. POWERPOINT SLIDES POWERPOINT SLIDE

FOR TABLE 1 RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Savage, P. Approvals in 2016: cost–benefit challenges of new anticancer agents. _Nat Rev

Clin Oncol_ 14, 133–134 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrclinonc.2017.12 Download citation * Published: 20 February 2017 * Issue Date: March 2017 * DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1038/nrclinonc.2017.12 SHARE THIS ARTICLE Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: Get shareable link Sorry, a shareable link is not

currently available for this article. Copy to clipboard Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative