About: pharma companies
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Commission clashes with pharma groups over drug patents
The EU executive and European pharmaceutical giants engaged in a high-profile clash in Brussels today (28 November) as the European Commission produced a report on alleged breaches of competition by the industry.
€2 billion poured into EU pharma innovation
A joint Commission-pharma industry research initiative to speed up the development of new drugs and cut down development costs began operating on 30 April 2008.
Pharma groups must ‘adapt or die’, says report
Top pharmaceuticals companies have to make some tough decisions regarding their future in the infectious disesase market as patents of major products to cure these diseases face expiry, argues independent market analyst Datamonitor.