In recent months, American and European politicians have been making public statements on fiscal support to maintain, sustain and grow their high-tech industries. We welcome the European Commission’s efforts to support “clean tech industries” through the Green Deal. For our part, the research-based biopharmaceutical industry continues to drive CO2 neutrality as part of our commitment to green transformation. However, the current strategic debate must be linked to the development of a competitive policy framework that will support future medical innovation, drive sustainable healthcare and meet the needs of patients across Europe.
Despite all the medical progress, there is still a huge unmet medical need for many people living with a disease in Europe – yet innovation is constrained rather than encouraged by regulators. Patients are eagerly waiting for answers to challenges such as antimicrobial resistance, depression and Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and many orphan diseases. Finding these answers is the purpose of our industry.
Soon, the European Commission will publish its proposals for the revision of the EU pharmaceutical legislative framework. The so-called ‘pharma package’ will have a significant and long-lasting impact on a sector that was the leading driver of the EU trade surplus in 2021, contributing €136 billion. Pharmaceutical companies employ 840,000 people across Europe and reinvest a higher percentage of their revenues into European research and development than any other high-tech sector.
Crucially, it goes beyond economics; Diluting intellectual property will lead to the development of innovative treatments in other areas of the world.
Crucially, it goes beyond economics; For example weaker intellectual property will drive the development of innovative treatments in other regions of the world making it more difficult for Europeans to participate in new clinical trials and gain access to the latest advances in care.
As Heads of State and Government come together for a special summit this week, they have a strategic choice: a thriving innovative, research-driven biopharmaceutical ecosystem with world-leading therapeutics that is vital to patients, economic prosperity and innovation. Supports early access for . European Jobs; Or slow death: the gradual loss of standards in healthcare, investment and talent, with the promise of a vision, ambition and policy framework across the Atlantic or the Asia-Pacific region that will drive rather than stifle medical innovation.
For Europe, it is a strategic choice: a flourishing innovative, research-driven biopharmaceutical ecosystem with world-leading therapeutics… or slow death.
With proven, resilient supply chains, the innovative drug has fueled shortages seen across Europe in recent weeks. However, as the loss of cutting-edge research, development and manufacturing accelerates, Europe will in future become more dependent on innovation coming from other regions.
It is important not to underestimate both the impact and the speed of change. In the 1990s, half of all new treatments originated in Europe, a figure now only one in five. Clinical trials for cutting-edge treatments such as personalized cell, gene and tissue therapy, considered the future of medicine, are now twice as common in the US as in Europe and nearly three times as common in China.
In the 1990s, half of all new treatments originated in Europe, a figure now only one in five.
President Ursula von der Leyen just recently said in Davos: “We see aggressive efforts to attract our industrial capabilities to China or elsewhere. And we know that future investments based on what we do today decisions will be taken. We should expect that this realization will play a role for upcoming pharmaceutical legislation. Early drafts of the proposals, available in the public domain, will harm rather than enhance the industry’s competitiveness in Europe, and will help attract life science investment. would severely limit the ambitions of member states.
French President Emmanuel Macron called for “European Awakening” on global competition. The EU indeed holds the key to unlocking the strategically important health, innovation and economic potential of its largest high-tech industry. It has the power to stem the flow of significant investment to other world regions. If the EU gets it right, a research-based pharmaceutical industry will uniquely help deliver more innovation for patients and a healthier future for Europe.