In first, cancer drugs simultaneously approved in US, Canada, Australia

Drug approvals often occur in succession, with pharmaceutical companies typically focusing first on top markets like the U.S. and Europe. Each country has different review procedures as well, at times resulting in delays for a drug cleared in, say, the U.S. to arrive elsewhere. Project Orbis, piloted by the FDA's Oncology Center of Excellence, is designed to help coordinate cancer drug reviews, allowing for simultaneous approval and, in theory, earlier patient access to new treatments. Merck and Eisai's combination of Keytruda (pembrolizumab) and Lenvima (lenvatininb) is the first recipient of a Project Orbis review. In this case, the FDA worked alongside its counterparts in Canada and Australia but future reviews could involve other international agencies like the European Medicines Agency. "As Project Orbis expands, we look forward to welcoming additional international partners to collaborate with us in this important initiative," said acting FDA Commissioner Ned Sharpless in a statement.  Approval of Keytruda and Lenvima in endometrial cancer is an expansion of each drug's label, rather than an initial OK for either drug. In a question-and-answer document posted online, the FDA said future collaborations could involve a New Drug Application or a Biologics License Application but cautioned that those reviews "may be more complex due to proprietary information involved."