European pharmaceutical companies are calling on governments to increase investment in medicines, accelerate clinical trials and strengthen intellectual-property protections as the industry faces growing competition from the United States and China.
The chairpersons of nine major drugmakers, including AstraZeneca, GSK, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Roche and Sanofi, made the appeal in an open letter published on Tuesday.
The executives warned that Europe risks losing its position in global pharmaceutical research and development unless governments create conditions that attract more investment in innovative medicines.
They said Europe’s share of global pharmaceutical research and development has fallen to 31%, from 43% in 1990. Its share of commercial clinical trials has also dropped to 9% over the past decade.
The drugmakers further said about 40% of new therapies do not reach European patients, highlighting concerns over regulatory delays, funding constraints and access to medicines.
The companies urged the European Union and its member states to provide greater fiscal flexibility for healthcare spending, improve trial processes and strengthen incentives for pharmaceutical investment.
The appeal comes as pharmaceutical companies increasingly look to the United States and China, where faster development processes and larger investments are reshaping global competition in drug research.
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