The 22nd Meeting of the Spanish Pharmaceutical Industry will focus on the reform of European legislation and its impact on Spain
The forum, organised by the Menéndez Pelayo International University (UIMP) and Farmaindustria, will be held on 7 and 8 September in Santander
Patient representatives, drug authorities, experts in economics and legislation and pharmaceutical companies will participate
Source: farmaindustria.es
The proposed revision of the European pharmaceutical legislation published at the end of April by the European Commission (EC) contains a number of measures that could jeopardise the development of the pharmaceutical industry on our continent and patients’ access to innovative treatments.
Biopharmaceutical companies are particularly concerned because the initial approach weakens incentives for investment in innovation and thus hinders the development of new medicines in Europe. However, the road ahead for the reform of pharmaceutical legislation has only just begun, so constructive and in-depth discussions on amending the legislation can be very fruitful in improving some aspects of the proposal and making the European Union (EU) a more conducive territory for investment in R&D and biomedical production.
This is what has motivated the 22nd Meeting of the Spanish Pharmaceutical Industry, organised as every year by the Menéndez Pelayo International University (UIMP) and Farmaindustria, to focus on analysing the EC proposal and its impact on Spain and European patients.
The meeting, which will take place in Santander on Thursday 7 and Friday 8 September under the title Perspectives on drug regulation and incentives for pharmaceutical R&D, will be attended by representatives of the Spanish Medicines Agency (Aemps), patients and pharmaceutical companies, authorities and experts in economics and legislation. Among the confirmed specialists are Nathalie Moll, Director General of the European Federation of the Pharmaceutical Industry (Efpia), and Georges Siotis, former Economic Advisor to the EC, Professor of Economics at the Carlos III University in Madrid, and Associate Researcher in the Industrial Organisation Programme.
As in previous editions, the Meeting is directed by Félix Lobo, Emeritus Professor at the Carlos III University, Madrid, Director of Economics and Health Policies at Funcas and President of the Advisory Committee of the Pharmaceutical Provision of the NHS of the Ministry of Health. The agenda for both days can be found at this link.
“Investment in research and development of new medicines is shifting to the United States and China, which in the last 20 years have increased their investment in this field to the detriment of Europe. Currently, only 22% of new treatments originate in our continent, while 47% come from North America,” recalls Farmaindustria’s director general, Juan Yermo. This loss of European competitiveness compared to other markets that have shown greater growth”, he adds, “has a direct implication for European and Spanish citizens, as access to the best treatments or the possibility of participating in innovative clinical trials is at risk”.
