About: pharmaceuticals review

Pharmaceutical forum far from consensus

The EU high-level pharmaceutical forum still has a long way to go before tabling a consensus on the structural changes needed to improve competitiveness of the European pharmaceutical industry.

Analysis: Community pharmacy in Europe: lessons from deregulation – case studies

A study entitled Community pharmacy in Europe: Lessons from deregulation - case studies, carried out by the Austrian Health Institute (OBIG), examines pharmacy legislation and quantitative and qualitative indicators in six European countries:Austria, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway and Spain. 

‘Informed patient’ debate heats up

Communicating faster, higher quality and more reliable information to patients was the focus of a round table debate among health professionals.

Experts agree patients should receive more health-related information

Patients' right to more information was a recurring theme at a conference on the pharmaceutical sector hosted by Commissioners Byrne and Liikanen.

Pharmaceuticals: Poland is first to request transition period on data protection

Poland has become the first new Member State to request a 15-year transition period for the implementation of the data protection provisions of the EU's new pharma law.

Full interview with Tom McKillop, CEO AstraZeneca, President EFPIA

In an exclusive interview with EURACTIV, Sir Tom comments on Europe's competitiveness, the future medicines legislation, EU enlargement, corporate governance and information on medicines to patients through the Internet.

Interview news: Companies should be allowed to inform patients accurately, says Tom McKillop

While patients have access to information on medicines from a variety of sources, companies in the EU with a legal liability cannot communicate on their products, said Tom McKillop, the CEO of AstraZeneca.

Pharmaceuticals: supervised information to patients should be allowed, says Liikanen

A day after the Council's final go-ahead for the new pharmaceuticals package, the Enterprise Commissioner said its provisions on patient information should be softened.

EU competition authorities to face new pharma takeover battle

France and Germany are at odds over a hostile takeover bid by French pharma company Sanofi for rival Aventis.

Pharma review: MEPs confirm strict rules for data protection

On 17 December, the European Parliament adopted amendments in the pharmaceuticals review package concerning the medicines agency as well as human and veterinary medicines.

Pharma review: no relief on data protection for new Member States

On 27 November the Public Health Committee rejected the special "enlargement" amendment proposed by MEP Corbey but agreed to the 8+2+1 data protection formula for pharmaceuticals.

MEPs to tackle impact of pharma review on new Member States

The controversial data exclusivity provisions of the pharmaceutical review will be contested in the second reading debate in the Parliament's Public Health Committee.

Stakeholders reveal differing positions on pharmaceuticals review

Innovative and generics pharma industries differ on the second reading of the pharmaceuticals review.

MEP appeals to Enlargement Commissioner over pharmaceuticals review

On 5 November, socialist MEP Corbey made an appeal to Commissioner Verheugen to investigate the impact of changes to current EU pharmaceuticals rules on the new Member States.

Intellectual property and business strategies

The paper examines the level of intellectual property protection in the future Member States, in particular in the area of pharmaceutical industry.

The Globalisation of Innovation and Corporate Governance in Pharmaceuticals: The Shift of European I

This discussion paper argues that demand, supply and institutional factors come together favourably in the USA, making it a centre of gravity for world pharmaceutical research.

Health Council rejects proposal to lift advertising ban for medicines

On 2 June, the Health Council reached political agreement on two legislative proposals in the "pharma review package". Two Member States, Belgium and the Netherlands, immediately expressed their intention to vote against the upcoming common position. A number of accession candidates also expressed reservations.

Perspectives on Pharmaceutical Policy / Reforming EU health competence

Court of Justice to allow Internet sales of medicines?

On 11 March, the Court's Advocate General gave her position in a law case between the German pharmacists' union and a Dutch pharmacy giving strong support to right of web-based medicines sales.

Riding the pharma roller coaster

Parliament rejects medicines advertising

On 23 October, the European Parliament in its first reading of the pharmaceutical review proposals, said "yes" to centralised authorisation procedure of new medicines. MEPs rejected direct advertising of pharmaceutical products and supported earlier market access of generic medicines.

Presidential act eases access to generic medicines in the US

As European parliamentarians are preparing to vote in first reading on the Pharma Review package, the US President has eased access to generic drugs.

Pharma Review package awaits momentous vote in Parliament

On 22 October the Parliament will vote on the Pharma Review package, addressing many aspects, including regulatory data protection, medicines advertising and bureaucratic burden on industry.

Parliament opposes medicines advertising from industry

The European Parliament's Environment Committee opposes Commission plans to allow the pharmaceutical industry to provide information on medicines to consumers. In their first reading of three reports dealing with the EU's pharmaceutical review, the MEPs also adopted an amendment speeding up the time within which generic medicines can be brought to the market.