About: drug innovation

Eastern Europe diversity should be considered in EU-wide cancer plan

Having a pan-European cancer control plan is crucial, but some flexibility should be granted to member states in choosing which aspect to prioritise within the framework, said Linda Gibbs from Pfizer Oncology in an interview with EURACTIV.com.

Czech drug policy shifts toward patients with rare diseases

The Czech government has launched a legislative initiative to improve access to most modern medications and rare disease drugs, Health Minister Adam Vojtěch told EURACTIV in an interview, adding that patients are involved in the decision-making process at a very early stage, including in drafting the law.

New pharma boss: Next EU Commission should be clear on how to protect innovation

The next EU Commission should take a stronger position on innovation in the pharma sector, the new leader of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) told EURACTIV.com in an interview.

Discussion heats up over stockpiling of generic drugs under patent protection

The Commission has announced its intention to add a manufacturing waiver to supplementary protection certificates (SPC), as part of its upgraded 2015 Single Market Strategy.

The European Commission should shelve its patent law proposal

The European Commission is considering an initiative that would permanently hobble the continent's economy, writes Jan Fischer.

Greek minister: Effective health and pharma policy needs stronger EU Commission role

A number of member states want the European Commission’s competences in health and pharma policy to be upgraded in order to face more effectively the rising challenges in the field, Greek health minister Andreas Ksanthos told EURACTIV.com in an interview.

New drugs: how much are governments paying for innovation?

The European healthcare sector is divided over the “actual value” EU governments pay for the authorised and partly public-funded novel drugs, compared to medicines already on the market.

EFPIA President: Next EU Commission should prioritise competitiveness in pharma innovation

The next European Commission should focus on the bloc’s role in the global context of innovation, as China is “decisive” about creating a reliable framework for intellectual property and connecting biotech start-ups and digital companies, EFPIA’s President Stefan Oschmann told EURACTIV.com in an interview.  

Time to end fragmentation of EU healthcare, experts say

Experts are asking for a more collaborative approach in EU healthcare and greater involvement of the European Commission in order to face rising challenges and put patients at the core of decision-making.

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 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.