Background Because of its high cost, incorporation of new antineoplastic drugs to hospitals need to be evaluated.

Purpose Economic and clinical evaluation of the use of new parenteral anticancer drugs (PAD) authorised by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) between 2006 and 2011 in a Spanish tertiary hospital.

Materials and methods It is a descriptive study about new PAD. Purchase costs, number of treated patients and the incorporation rate to the Hospital Drug Therapy Guide (HDTG) were analysed using management database and electronic prescription program data.

Results The authors observed that three of the nine new PDA authorised by the EMA and marketed in Spain (bendamustine, clofarabine, ipilimumab, nelarabine, panitumumab, temsirolimus, trabectedine, azacitidine and vinflunine) were included on the HDTG as second line treatment. The rest of the new antineoplastic drugs were not incorporated to our HDTG but specific patient administration was accepted if there was a medical justification. 133 patients were treated with these medications between 2006 and 2011. Bendamustine Panitimumab and Clofarabine were used most frequently during the study period: Bendamustine was used in 24 patients, Clofarabine in 18 and Panitimumab in 40 patients. Leukaemia and lymphoma (28,7%) and colon and colorectal neoplasm (NCC) (33,3%) were the indication with the highest consumption of new antineoplastic drugs and with a higher cost. New PAD total cost purchased derived during the specified period of time was 1.658.792€, (0,37% of total drug expenses) with 3151 vials purchased. By the first half of 2011, new PAD supposed 0,93% of drug expenses, with an average consumption of 77,537€ per month.

Conclusions Despite the low incorporation rate of new PAD to the HDGT, they have an economic impact in our hospital. Economic repercussion and the number of patients in treatment show the importance of the drugs selection process in order to rationalise antineoplastic drugs use.