Innovation in pharma

‘Vital’ UK remains part of EU clinical trials, say MPs

Continued participation in EU-wide clinical trials and the Horizon 2020 research programme is ‘vital’ to the UK’s life sciences sector, according to a new cross-party report by UK MPs.

EU and UK patients with rare diseases in Brexit limbo

It is still unclear whether the UK will participate after Brexit in the European Reference Networks, which aim to help patients with rare diseases, potentially putting at risk millions of patients.

Health care risks being forgotten in Brexit talks, industry warns

Health risks being forgotten in Brexit negotiations, potentially delaying the availability of new medicines and imposing large costs on manufacturers, public health leaders have warned.

EU unveils health technology bill

The European Commission unveiled plans for a pan-EU Health Technology Assessment (HTA) law on Wednesday (31 January), with EU health chief Vytenis Andriukaitis promising that they would help patients take advantage of “an exciting era for innovation in health".

Fake medicines? Face 15 year jail term

Twenty-one EU countries have made falsifying medicines a criminal offence, carrying a potential jail sentence of 15 years, according to a new report published on Friday (26 January) by the European Commission.

Health expert: Europe should not put its dominant pharma innovation at risk

The European Union should not create an environment more favourable to generics compared to the innovative pharmaceuticals, as it risks weakening Europe’s overall global strength in pharmaceuticals and in research, Professor Adrian Towse told EURACTIV.com in an interview.

Commission reforms meet with national ‘silence’, says frustrated EU health chief

EU governments are meeting the Commission's proposals to reform health systems with "silence", an exasperated Health Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis said on Thursday (25 January), pleading for more investment in prevention across the bloc.

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.

Stakeholders call for more transparent meetings between pharma and EMA

Public health organisations and EU lawmakers say the closed-door meetings before the submission of a new drug between the pharma industry and the European Medicines Agency (EMA), a key player in the continent’s healthcare industry, should be more transparent.

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.

Drug pricing debate to take place in heated atmosphere

Following a Greek government request, the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) will discuss on Friday (8 December) a recent dispute between Athens and ROCHE, a Swiss multinational company, over the latter’s decision to withdraw a cancer drug from the market.

Celgene boss: Chronic diseases will bankrupt Europe if incentives are dropped

Alzheimers, diabetes, cancer and other non-communicable diseases will bankrupt Europe if we don’t keep the incentive frameworks alive and well, Mark Alles told EURACTIV.com in an interview.

UK and pharma industry call for transition period for medicines supply

With Brexit barely 15 months away, the UK government, as well as the European and British life science industry, is calling for a transition period on the regulation and supply of medicines in order to avoid potential disruptions in the market that will negatively affect patients.

Athens brings its dispute with pharma industry to the EU Council

The next EU Health Council on 8 December will discuss the “lack of drug availability in Greece”, amid mounting tensions between the leftist government in Athens and the pharmaceutical companies.

Andriukaitis: National health systems need ‘fundamental reform’

EU countries could save money and lives by increasing investment in disease prevention and health promotion, the European Commission said on Thursday (23 November), stressing that good health policy requires political will across all sectors.

EU health Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis discusses Europe’s superbug battlefront

Vytenis Andriukaitis, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, joined Brian Maguire to discuss Europe’s fight against the deadly rise of superbugs.

EMA relocation should consider the wellbeing of all Europeans

The competition for the European Medicines Agency is not a horse race but the first concrete, effective decision the EU has to make in the wake of Brexit - and one with long-lasting consequences. A responsible yet ambitious mindset is therefore in order, writes Sandro Gozi.

Pharmaceutical company gives free access to drug after clash with Greek government

Following a clash with the Greek government over its decision to withdraw a cancer drug from the market, ROCHE, a Swiss multinational company, ultimately decided to make the drug available to patients for free.

Greek health minister fumes at pharmaceutical company after drug withdrawal

The Greek ministry of health reacted strongly to the decision of a pharmaceutical company to withdraw a drug from the market for “viability” reasons, saying it will not accept any blackmail.

Pharmaceutical company withdraws oncology drug from Greek market

A multinational pharmaceutical company has decided to withdraw an innovative oncology medicine from the Greek market, claiming that its price has fallen more than 50% because of the government’s regulatory interventions in the pharma area, EURACTIV.com has learnt.

Greek government on collision course with pharmaceutical companies over innovative drugs

Several pharmaceutical companies in Greece have threatened to stop supplying the market with innovative drugs and said they could even withdraw existing drugs as a result of an obligatory “discount” imposed by the Greek government and applied retroactively.

New Commission study fuels generic drugs industry ‘manufacturing dispute’

The European Commission launched on Thursday (12 October) a public consultation on supplementary protection certificates for pharmaceutical products and the so-called Bolar patent research exemption.