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To deal with rising healthcare expenditure, governments around the world are focusing on the price of pharmaceuticals as a means to control overall spending. New approaches to pricing and reimbursement [...]

To fulfil its duties, EMA works closely with several European organisations, including the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Council and Presidency of the EU and numerous national bodies in [...]

Parallel trade involves the cross-border trade of a given product in parallel to a manufacturer's official supply chain in that country. With respect to pharmaceuticals, the trade is a controversial [...]

Traditionally, clinical trials were predominantly I conducted in North America, Western Europe and Japan, but over the past decade there has been a dramatic shift towards using other regions. The [...]

The French pharmaceutical sector is a recognised force within the healthcare system. As well as representing a source of medicines, it is a major employer and contributor to the economy. [...]

The economic crisis in Greece has dominated I headlines in Europe for the past few years. The country recently secured a bailout worth [euro]130 billion, but no one believes this [...]

Despite receiving increased regulatory attention, counterfeit medicines remain a serious and ongoing global health threat. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines them as medicines that have been deliberately and fraudulently [...]

Although the leading pharmaceutical companies are often termed multinationals, their regional origins are still important. Several studies have suggested that the idea of a global company that transcends national boundaries [...]

Over the past 30 years, there have been dramatic advances in many areas, including biotechnology genomics, diagnostic imaging, molecular diagnostics, organ and tissue replacement, surgical techniques, wound care and computer [...]

The EMA has extensive obligations in Europe, including issuing scientific opinions in support of EU-wide marketing authorisations, offering advice on medicine-related issues, and working with institutions and partner agencies on [...]

Scandals regarding diabetes treatment Mediator frequently dominate French press headlines. Mediator was only withdrawn from the French market in November 2009, despite reports dating back as far as the 1990s [...]

India has become a major business partner for the EU and has been designated as one of its 'strategic partners' since 2004. (1) In 2009, EU goods exports to India [...]

Over the past 2 years there has been an overt drive by the European Parliament to improve patient access to information on medicines. However, there is growing concern that some [...]

A European-wide awareness initiative hopes to tackle the issue of antibiotic over-prescription, but industry must also be encouraged to make further investments. In November 2008, the first-ever European Antibiotic Awareness [...]

Since 2003, there has been a growing level of interaction between the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the FDA. (1-3) With Europe and the US representing the two largest pharmaceutical [...]

Few people are aware of just how powerful a force Europe is in the R&D of vaccines. This is important given the fact that the earlier part of this decade [...]

Despite the poor economic climate, large-scale mergers and acquisitions in the pharmaceutical industry struck back with a vengeance in 2009. According to KPMG International, the scale of merger and acquisition [...]

A major financial concern for pharmaceutical companies is the so-called 'patent cliff,' which represents the sharp downturn to be expected for product sales upon the expiry of its patent. In [...]

As a major source of employment, the pharmaceutical industry plays a key role in the European economy. According to the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), the industry [...]

The fight against counterfeit medicines is back in the headlines, with the announcement that INTERPOL and 29 of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies have teamed up for a new campaign. [...]

There is considerable debate about the R&D efficiency and innovative capacity of the pharmaceutical industry based on analyses of new drug output (1), (2). Although most pharmaceutical companies are still [...]

As one of Europe's top performing high-technology sectors, the innovative capacity of the pharmaceutical industry is crucial to its future. In 2011, companies invested an estimated [euro]27.5 billion in R&D [...]

The global economic downturn has had a devastating effect on most countries. In Europe, the impact has been particularly severe and has led to questions being asked about the viability [...]

In 2008, a report published by an economics professor at Johns Hopkins University, in partnership with the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry and the UK Vaccines Industry Group, predicted that [...]

Germany used to afford pharmaceutical companies the freedom to set their own prices for products. Recent healthcare reform, however, now means that new medicines must undergo a cost-benefit analysis, which [...]

In September 2012, the first global World Alzheimer's month was held, representing an international campaign to raise awareness and challenge stigma concerning the disease. Alzheimer's disease has a heavy social [...]

Paediatric-drug development is an area that has lagged in terms of regulatory attention in the EU, partly because of the difficulties in establishing consistent regulations between the different member states. [...]

Germany's pharmaceutical market is currently valued at around [euro]38 billion, making it the largest pharmaceutical market in Europe (1). Historically, the country has been attractive for launching new medicines because [...]

However 2012 ends up, it will be a dramatic year for Servier. The French company has a number of ongoing collaborations that could lead to a new generation of products, [...]

By 2025, more than 20% of the European population will be 65 or older, with a particularly rapid increase in the number of people over 80. By 2050, the number [...]

Cardiovascular disease is a major health threat in Europe. Every year, cardiovascular disease accounts for 23% of Europe's disease burden and is responsible for nearly half of all deaths (48%) [...]

With underlying technologies advancing, there has been a drive in recent years to introduce electronic prescriptions. Although electronic prescribing has gained popularity in the US and been explored by a [...]

When it comes to Europe, most attention focuses on the EU pharmaceutical market and the R&D activity of companies in the 27 member states, Switzerland is not an EU member [...]

When Pfizer decided to close its R&D site in Sandwich attractiveness to the pharma industry. The site employs 2400 people and although Pfizer has stated that some positions will be [...]

The public believes that governments and regulators will ensure the safety of the medicines they use. This means that efforts to improve available drug safety systems are always high on [...]

The article focuses on orphan drugs that are becoming the major area of investment for pharmaceutical companies in Europe. It informs that the European healthcare systems are struggling to cover the costs of treatment for citizens and orphan drugs are placing a greater pressure on the system. It further mentions that the companies argue that they must still charge high prices to guarantee sufficient return.

The article focuses on the regulatory intervention in stimulating paediatric-drug development. It says that paediatric-drug development is an area that was left behind in terms of regulatory attention in the European Union (EU). It states that the Paediatric Regulation gives harmonised guidance and incentives for developing safe and effective paediatric medicines in Europe. It adds that the Paediatric Regulation established the paediatric use marketing authorization (PUMA).

The article focuses on the decision of the European Union (UN) to approve Croatia's EU membership application as issues concerning corruption, organised crime and counterfeit pharmaceuticals seem to have been overcome. It states that the pharmaceutical market has grown as a result of the move of the government to fund healthcare. Meanwhile, it notes that concerns regarding corruption and organized crime have been subjected to careful examination by those wary of the nation's entry into the EU.

The article focuses on the important role of the pharmaceutical industry of Switzerland in the European market. It highlights that the country contributes up to four billion euro in market value and ranks fourth in research and development expenditure for drug development. It mentions that the country is home to pharmaceutical giants, Novartis AG and F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. Also discussed are the regulatory and pricing systems by Swissmedic and the European Medicines Agency.