[email protected] +1 303 779 0344

FDA Approval Timeline Made in Excel with OnePager

This timeline of FDA approvals, created in OnePager using data from Microsoft Project or Excel, allows a pharmaceutical company to quickly present its current portfolio of drugs in the market as well as tell investors which new drug development projects are on the near-term horizon.

Timeline of past and expected FDA approvals by a drug company.

Download FDA Approval Timeline as PDF Download FDA Approval Timeline as Image

OnePager Express Timeline Components

This timeline uses:

Different shapes and colors to differentiate in-house development projects from outside acquisitions
Comment boxes to identify each drug development project by its National Drug Code (NDC)
Filled and hollow milestone markers to indicate which drugs are approved, and which are still being reviewed by the FDA
Multi-year view to allow for easier long-range and strategic planning by executives and investors
Floating time axis in the middle of the chart to make it easier to see when each milestone occurs
Stretch of one year on the time axis to zoom in on an area of focus
Positioning of multiple milestones in the same row to save space in the presentation

This FDA approval timeline was created using OnePager, timeline software that can build professional timelines quickly and easily using data from Microsoft Project or Excel.

To learn more about how OnePager can help you manage and present your company's FDA approval timeline, get started today by downloading a free trial or attending one of our demonstration webinars.

15-Day
Free Trial

Sample Files

This FDA approval timeline was created using the following files, which can be used to create something similar for your own team. You can download examples that work either with Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, or Excel:

Microsoft Project
Smartsheet
Excel

Microsoft Project Samples

FDA Approval Timeline.mpp (Microsoft Project Schedule)

FDA Approval Timeline (Project).tat (OnePager Template for Microsoft Project)

Microsoft Project Instructions

To build an FDA approval timeline like the example above, follow these instructions:

Download the sample files above. There is a Microsoft Project plan containing all of the key FDA approval milestones, plus a OnePager template that will help define the layout of the timeline itself. Save both files to your desktop.
Open the Microsoft Project.
Once Microsoft Project is open, go to Add-Ins and click the OnePager button.
On the OnePager start screen, click NEW to build a new timeline.
We need to change OnePager's default template to the one downloaded above. To do this, click on Change, and then BROWSE FILES to the OnePager template (*.tat) file. This OnePager template contains all of the data-driven formatting (styles, layout, etc.) that make the timeline look the way that it does.
Once the custom OnePager template is selected, click on Create New Chart to build your timeline. It should look similar to the example at the top of this article.
To add the floating time axis as shown in the example, right-click where you would like it, and then choose Insert Floating Time Axis Level > Year (Middle Level) in row above. You can learn more about OnePager's floating time axis if you would like to customize this further.

Smartsheet Samples

FDA Approval Timeline (Smartsheet).xlsx (Excel for import into Smartsheet)

FDA Approval Timeline (Smartsheet).tat (OnePager Template for Smartsheet)

Smartsheet Instructions

To build an FDA Approval Timeline like the example above, follow these instructions:

Download the sample files above. The Excel file contains all of the different milestones, and will be imported into your Smartsheet account, while the OnePager template will help define the layout of the timeline itself. Save both files to your desktop.
To import the Excel file into Smartsheet, first log into your Smartsheet account.
In Smartsheet, click on + Start a New Project, and then from the Import tile, choose Microsoft Excel:
Point Smartsheet to the Excel file that you downloaded above and press Continue. On the Import Settings, review the name of your sheet, and then click Import::
Now that the sample project has been imported into your Smartsheet account, go to your desktop, and click the OnePager button.
On the OnePager start screen, click NEW to build a new timeline.
Go to Select > BROWSE Smartsheet, log into your Smartsheet account, and then point OnePager to the example project.
We need to change OnePager's default template to the one downloaded above. To do this, click on Change, and then BROWSE FILES to the OnePager template (*.tat) file. This OnePager template contains all of the data-driven formatting (styles, layout, etc.) that make the timeline look the way that it does.
Once the custom OnePager template is selected, click on Create New Chart to build your timeline. It should look similar to the example at the top of this article.
If you want to align the phase gate milestones in the top swimlane differently, you can drag them up and down with your mouse to achieve the desired layout.
You can fine-tune the position of task and milestone labels by selecting the task or milestone and then using the text positioning controls on the Home tab of OnePager. Dependency lines can also be repositioned using your mouse if a line crosses a task in a way that makes it look too busy. You can also add a floating time axis like the one in the example above.

15-Day
Free Trial

Excel Samples

FDA Approval Timeline.xlsx (Excel Schedule)

FDA Approval Timeline (Excel).tat (OnePager Template for Excel)

Excel Instructions

To build an FDA approval timeline like the example above, follow these instructions:

Download the sample files above. There is an Excel file containing all of the key FDA approval milestones, plus a OnePager template that will help define the layout of the timeline itself. Save both files to your desktop.
Open the Excel file.
Once Excel is open, go to Add-Ins and click the OnePager button.
On the OnePager start screen, click NEW to build a new timeline.
We need to change OnePager's default template to the one downloaded above. To do this, click on Change, and then BROWSE FILES to the OnePager template (*.tat) file. This OnePager template contains all of the data-driven formatting (styles, layout, etc.) that make the timeline look the way that it does.
Once the custom OnePager template is selected, click on Create New Chart to build your timeline. It should look similar to the example at the top of this article.
To add the floating time axis as shown in the example, right-click where you would like it, and then choose Insert Floating Time Axis Level > Year (Middle Level) in row above. You can learn more about OnePager's floating time axis if you would like to customize this further.

15-Day
Free Trial