Clinical trials
EU agency examines Roche arthritis drug as possible COVID-19 treatment
Europe's drugs regulator said on Monday (16 August) that it was evaluating the use of Roche's arthritis drug, Actemra, in hospitalised adults with severe COVID-19, in its latest review of a potential coronavirus treatment.
Oxford coronavirus vaccine ‘safe’ and effective, study suggests
A preliminary study investigating the safety and effectiveness of a vaccine against COVID-19 has found the vaccine to be "safe" and that it triggered a "significant" immune response in human volunteers.
New EU Commission should take on rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases
The new European Commission should tackle "head-on" rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases, the president of the European League Against Rheumatism (Eular) told EURACTIV in an interview, referring to chronic diseases that affect one-quarter of all Europeans, creating healthcare and social security costs.
Would Europe be prepared for the next big epidemic? Yes, but…
The EU's preparedness for outbreaks of infectious disease has increased, but member states still need to overcome ethical, administrative, regulatory and logistic bottlenecks for boosting clinical research, medical experts said at a scientific meeting in Brussels.
Health tech bill to kick off busy policy agenda in 2018
The European Commission will propose a new law on Health Technology Assessments to kick off a busy EU health agenda in 2018.
Commission reassures ‘worried’ member states on Health Technology Assessment
The Commission’s upcoming proposal on Health Technology Assessment (HTA) will focus on clinical aspects and leave member states to decide on economic or ethical parts, a European Commission spokesperson told EURACTIV.com.
Pharma boss: Targeting drugs won’t make healthcare systems more sustainable
“Salami-slicing” the cost of medicines, which represent almost one-fifth of health system budgets and are subject to rigorous value assessments, won’t make healthcare systems more sustainable in the future, Nathalie Moll told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
EU agency OK’d 39 cancer drugs without evidence they work, study shows
The European Medicines Agency approved 39 new cancer drugs between 2009 and 2013 despite having no evidence that they worked, unnecessarily exposing patients to toxicity, researchers said Thursday (5 October).
UK biotech boasts Europe’s best pipeline as Brexit looms
Britain's biotech sector boasts the strongest new drug pipeline in Europe but industry leaders say it needs continued access to global talent, funding and regulatory clarity to thrive in the future - all of which could be jeopardised by Brexit.
African Union EU rep: ‘Africa shouldn’t just be a spectator to global decisions’
The African Unions EU representative, Ajay Bramdeo, told EURACTIV Germany that plans for a Marshall Plan for Africa are fundamentally good but warned that the continent needs to be the focus and that healthcare must be the priority.
Allowing patients to choose could save billions
The Commission’s recent musings on the social dimension of Europe touches on common drug pricing among member states. But it misses out on solutions for faster access to medicine, Fred Roeder.
The Commission’s innovation confusion
Unless the European Commission changes its attitude, the innovation gap between Europe and the US will likely increase, and it could be overtaken soon by China, with dire consequences for living standards, warns Philip Stevens.
Rare cancers: A headache for policymakers
The complexity of diagnosing and treating rare forms of cancers like sarcomas can be addressed by a multi-level approach and better coordination among member states, insist experts in the field.
Lawmakers warn EU pharma industry about drug pricing
Pressure is mounting on pharmaceutical companies to reconsider the way they do business by refocusing their efforts on meeting patient needs and health outcomes rather than their own profits.
Germany votes to ease access to medical marijuana
The German Bundestag today (19 January) unanimously passed legislation granting seriously ill patients easier access to medical marijuana. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Tattoos could pose health risk says new Commission report
Ink used in tattoo parlours can contain low-purity pigments that are not meant to be applied to the skin and may pose a health risk, according to a European Commission report. EURACTIV Spain reports.
Alzheimer Europe chief: Holistic approach needed to tackle dementia
Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia remain underdiagnosed in most European countries, Jean Georges told EURACTIV.
Andriukaitis: Health Technology Assessment will make EU healthcare ‘sustainable’
EXCLUSIVE / National healthcare systems should embrace the digital era and use Health Technology Assessment (HTA) to become truly sustainable and cost-effective, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Vytenis Andriukaitis told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
EU’s sunbed safety assessment clouded by bias
An upcoming assessment by a European Commission committee on the risks of UV radiation and sunbeds is hamstrung by in-built bias and a failure to comprehensively address all the issues, warns Frank Harbusch.
Brexit casts doubt over Uganda development project on lung disease
The UK's vote to leave the European Union has come at a crucial moment in the development of an international medical project that throws into sharp relief the state of flux Brexit has cast over collaborative research, says Jack Barton.
EU drugs agency to unveil results on ‘early medicines’ project this week
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) will this week publish the much-awaited results of a pilot project on the early marketing authorisation of drugs, EURACTIV has learnt.
Pharma expert: new ‘value added medicines’ offer cheaper, customised treatment
A new breed of drugs, called “value added medicines”, could help patients improve their everyday life while in treatment, without increasing healthcare budgets, Christoph Stoller said in an interview with EURACTIV.com
New medical devices rules should avoid ‘unnecessary’ red tape, industry says
The implementation of new rules on medical devices should avoid extra burdens and unnecessary bureaucracy, health industry officials have told EURACTIV.com.