Only three planned marketing authorization applications are known to have been granted accelerated assessment status by the European Medicines Agency between July and October this year. 

Janssen says the review at the European Medicines Agency of its marketing authorization application for cilta-cel reverted to standard timelines because the EMA wanted a GMP inspection and provision of a GMP certificate, "which did not allow continuation of the accelerated assessment timetable.”

EU reviewers have recommended five new medicines and a pneumococcal vaccine for EU-wide approval. New uses of several approved medicines have also drawn the thumbs up, while the sponsor of a cancer drug has withdrawn its product from the review process.