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Updated: Sep 20, 2025

Cell Population Analyses During Skin Carcinogenesis
Published on: August 21, 2013
Impact of an evolving regulatory landscape on skin cancer drug development in the U.S
David M Miller1, Sophia Z Shalhout, Denise Casey
1Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. dmiller4@mgh.harvard.edu.
Background:
There has been a rapid proliferation of FDA-approved medications with labeled indications for skin cancer over the last decade, with particular growth over the last 5 years.
Objective:
We aimed to evaluate the impact of an evolving U.S. regulatory framework on drug development programs to better understand current trends and regulatory considerations when adjudicating drug approvals for patients with skin cancer.
Methods:
We reviewed publicly-available regulatory documents of all systemic medications with a labeled indication for skin cancer.
Results:
We identified 130 FDA approvals that resulted in a unique indication, usage, formulation, or dosage change in skin cancer since 1949.
Limitations:
Publicly available data from the mid-to-late 20th century is limited.
Conclusions:
The therapeutic landscape in skin cancer has changed greatly since the first approval in 1949. In concert, regulatory medicine has also evolved over the last 70 years with the aim of ensuring safe and effective medicines for a diverse array of patients.
Insights
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved 130 skin cancer drug advancements since 1949. Regulatory frameworks have evolved alongside therapeutic landscapes to ensure safe and effective treatments.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Dermatology
- Regulatory Science
Background:
- Significant increase in FDA-approved skin cancer medications in the last decade.
- Accelerated growth observed in the past five years.
Purpose of the Study:
- Evaluate the impact of the evolving U.S. regulatory framework on drug development for skin cancer.
- Understand current trends and regulatory considerations in skin cancer drug approvals.
Main Methods:
- Review of publicly available regulatory documents.
- Inclusion of all systemic medications with a labeled indication for skin cancer.
Main Results:
- Identified 130 FDA approvals for skin cancer since 1949.
- Approvals included unique indications, usages, formulations, or dosage changes.
Conclusions:
- The therapeutic landscape for skin cancer has dramatically changed since 1949.
- Regulatory medicine has evolved over 70 years to ensure safe and effective treatments for diverse patient populations.
- Limited publicly available data exists from the mid-to-late 20th century.
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