About: pharma companies
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Drugs incentives have saved lives in Europe
Without strong incentives to spur continued investment in medical innovation, we cannot hope to ensure the sustainability of European healthcare systems and fulfil the promise of our great union, writes Jan Fischer.
Pharma industry ‘cannot escape’ drug price talks, say patient groups
Patient groups and the pharmaceutical sector agree that access to medicines needs to be improved - but the way to do it seems to divide them. EURACTIV.com reports from Sofia.
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.
A new debate is needed for biopharmaceuticals
The increasing complexity and uncertainty of drug development is hampering the industry’s ability to discover new, life-changing innovative medicines, writes Stefan Gijssels.
Berlin launches dialogue to boost pharma research
The German government initiated plans on Monday (15 September) to strengthen the country’s attractiveness for pharmaceutical research and development, but the Left Party warns it is likely to become an "image campaign" for pharmaceutical giants. EURACTIV.de reports. VideoPromoted content
Commission fines pharmaceutical companies for drug-delay deals
The European Commission on Wednesday imposed fines totaling €427.7 million on the French pharmaceutical company Servier and five producers of generic medicines – Niche/Unichem, Matrix (now part of Mylan), Teva, Krka and Lupin – for concluding a series of deals of deals all aimed at protecting Servier's bestselling blood pressure medicine, perindopril, from price competition by generics in the EU.
EU fines pharma companies for drug-delay deals
European Union antitrust regulators on Wednesday (9 July) fined French drugmaker Servier, Israel's Teva and four others a total of €428 million, as part of a crackdown on deals which block cheaper generic medicine.
Stop taxing the sick
The world’s sick and vulnerable should have access to affordable medicines in emerging and developing countries, which should lead an international liberalisation effort, argues Rod Hunter.
Pharma chief: Governments must stop thinking short-term
The EU must continue to invest in the pharmaceutical industry, where Europe has been a leader for many years, but where it's becoming more and more difficult to bring products to the market, says Bruno Strigini.
Pharma firms face EU fines for delaying cheaper drugs
European regulators will clamp down on "pay-for-delay" deals in the pharmaceutical sector this month, fining Denmark's Lundbeck and eight other generic drug manufacturers for limiting access of cheaper products to the market.
Drugmakers suffer decline in trust, report says
The overall corporate reputation of pharmaceutical companies declined in 2012 compared to 2011, according to an independent study by patients' organisations.
MEP: New clinical trial rules will boost EU pharma research
The European Commission's proposed regulation on clinical trials will help the European pharma industry to stop research centres from fleeing to Asia and America, says Philippe Juvin, a French centre-right MEP.
EU ramps up drug patent settlement scrutiny
The EU regulator said yesterday (17 January) that it was pressing pharmaceutical companies for more information on their patent deals with generic companies, in a bid to make sure there is no delay in cheaper drugs coming to market.
EU raids AstraZeneca and other drugmakers
EU antitrust regulators have raided the offices of some pharmaceutical companies, including AstraZeneca, suspected of colluding to block the market entry of cheaper generic drugs.
Medical innovation: Changing an ailing system
The system for medical innovation is broken. The number of people struggling to obtain or afford essential medicines is rising at a dangerous pace. There must be a radical overhaul, said experts at a European Parliament hearing on Thursday (18 November).
Healthcare fraud costing EU €56bn a year
€56 billion is lost to healthcare fraud each year in the EU, but experts say conflicts of interest in the pharmaceutical sector mean that the true extent of expenditure being directed away from patients remains unknown.
EU to scrutinise generic drug patent settlements
Patent settlements between pharmaceutical companies are set for European Commission scrutiny over concerns that some of the deals could deny EU consumers broader choice and lower-priced medicines.
Danish pharma firm faces EU antitrust probe
The European Commission has launched an investigation into possible anticompetitive behaviour by Danish drug company Lundbeck, just months after the conclusion of a lengthy inquiry into the pharmaceutical sector.
Pharma industry prepares for end of ‘blockbuster medicines’
The days of the $1 billion blockbuster drug are over, according to a senior industry researcher. Big pharma is now investing in finding multiple uses for medicines developed to treat rare diseases, but is pushing the EU for regulatory changes to make research worthwhile.
EU to inject millions into developing innovative medicines
Europe is pumping an extra €156.3 million into accelerating the discovery and development of novel drugs as part of a new wave of public-private investment in innovative medicines.
Commissioner makes final plea for drug information directive
European Commission Vice-President Günter Verheugen has called for the revival of the stalled directive on providing information to patients, which has been held up by EU health ministers.
Big pharma expresses relief over EU inquiry
The European pharmaceutical industry has expressed satisfaction with the publication of a long-awaited investigation into alleged anti-competitive practices in the sector, saying the final report is softer than a preliminary version released in November 2008.
Big pharma braced for EU probe closure
The European Commission is today widely expected to confirm earlier allegations that big pharma groups are breaching EU competition rules by blocking the entry of cheaper generics onto the European market.