The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) has released new research revealing that while EU pharmaceutical R&D spending grew by 4.4% annually between 2010 and 2022, rising from €27.8bn to €46.2bn, it has been outpaced by growth in the US (5.5%) and China (20.7%). The study highlights a concerning trend, with the EU falling behind China in 2023 for new molecule entities—medicines with a new active ingredient vital to R&D. Despite the industry's significant economic contribution of €311bn to the EU economy in 2022 and supporting 2.3 million jobs, the research underscores a widening productivity gap, with GVA per hour in the US pharmaceutical sector being double that of the EU. EFPIA emphasises the urgent need for a coherent life sciences strategy to boost European competitiveness and reverse these trends.

The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) has reported on the launch of several projects under the Innovative Health Initiative (IHI), outlining their funding allocations and project objectives. Under IHI Call 8, four projects received combined funding of €95.7m. These include Cities@Heart (€28.5m in total funding to support cardiovascular disease prevention in urban areas), BRIDGE (€9.5m to develop a regulatory sandbox framework), UNIFIED (€26.2m to develop patient-centred clinical endpoints) and PROBE (€31.5m to improve knee osteoarthritis care through big data approaches). Under IHI Call 9, thirteen proposals were selected for funding across various health research areas, with nine projects already having commenced. Notable projects include LIGAND-AI, which received €62.6m to accelerate drug development using artificial intelligence (AI), GUIDE-AI (€9.1m to develop AI-powered clinical guideline tools for chronic diseases) and END2AMR (€30m to support the development of treatments for drug-resistant infections). The funding comprises a combination of EU contributions and industry and partner investments. These initiatives are intended to address priority health challenges, with most projects expected to be completed by 2030.

The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) has released research on 25 April 2025 showing the proposed transferable exclusivity voucher (TEV) system would cost EU Member States €162m per voucher, 45% less than the European Commission's original €294m estimate. The TEV scheme, part of the EU's 2023 pharmaceutical legislation reform package, would grant pharmaceutical companies a one-year extension of regulatory data protection on existing products as an incentive for developing new antibiotics. The research, conducted by Charles Rivers Associates, indicates the cost reduction stems from proposed legislative safeguards against overcompensation.

The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) issued a preliminary response on 18 July 2025 to the Commission's Multiannual Financial Framework package proposed on 16 July. While EFPIA welcomed the alignment with competitiveness compass objectives, it expressed concerns about insufficient prioritisation of health research funding and the proposed corporate lump-sum contribution mechanism.

The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) has expressed support for the European Commission's efforts to strengthen pharmaceutical supply chains through the Critical Medicines Alliance Strategic Report. However, EFPIA raises concerns about the implementation of the Critical Medicines Act, particularly regarding supply chain vulnerability assessments and procurement rules.

The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) has reacted to opinions published by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA)’s scientific committees on the proposed Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) restriction, warning that the absence of derogations for pharmaceutical uses risks compromising patient access to critical medicines and driving manufacturing out of Europe. EFPIA says PFAS materials are essential for manufacturing processes, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), delivery devices and packaging, and cannot be substituted on a one-to-one basis without research and development, legal and regulatory approval. It argues that restricting PFAS would cause significant disruption for patients, healthcare systems and companies operating in Europe, and calls for clear and durable derogations for medicines to protect public health, EU competitiveness and strategic autonomy.

The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) has issued a response to the EU's new guidance on outcomes for joint clinical assessments (JCAs). While welcoming aspects such as flexibility in outcome measurement and the inclusion of patient-reported outcomes, the EFPIA expressed concerns about attempts to restrict member states outcome requests and the high evidentiary bar set for surrogate outcomes. The organisation also noted the potential burden of extensive adverse event analyses. The EFPIA remains optimistic about the guidance's pragmatic application but hopes future iterations will incorporate their recommendations and learnings from initial JCA processes to benefit European patients.

The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) has responded to the EU–US trade deal, as key implications for the pharmaceutical sector remain uncertain. EFPIA warned that tariffs on medicines are a blunt instrument that will disrupt supply chains, reduce investment in research and development and harm patient access on both sides of the Atlantic. It added that if the aim is to secure pharmaceutical investment, rebalance trade and ensure a fairer distribution of global pharmaceutical innovation financing, more effective approaches are needed. From a European perspective, this includes rethinking how innovation is valued, increasing spending on innovative medicines and creating an operating environment that accelerates the translation of Europe’s science into treatments and supports economic growth.

The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) has submitted its GDPR Code of Conduct on Clinical Trials and Pharmacovigilance to the Belgian Data Protection Authority for formal assessment. The code aims to establish consistent interpretation of GDPR provisions in pharmaceutical research and pharmacovigilance across the EU, addressing concerns raised in the Draghi Report on European Competitiveness about legal fragmentation and inconsistent GDPR enforcement. The code seeks to enhance legal certainty and reduce administrative burden for pharmaceutical companies operating in the EU.

The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) has published its updated thresholds for meals and drinks, setting out maximum hospitality limits permitted across member countries. In some jurisdictions, higher limits are conditional on a minimum scientific programme duration. The scorecard shows varying limits ranging from €32 per meal in Ukraine to €135 in Iceland, with some countries requiring minimum scientific activity durations and different VAT treatment approaches. For example, Belgium permits hospitality of €45 for lunch and €90 for dinner (incl. VAT), subject to a minimum of six hours of scientific activities. France, Germany, Spain and Italy set per-meal limits of approximately €70–75 (incl. VAT), while Ireland sets a limit of €90 per meal (incl. VAT). In the UK, a maximum of £75 plus VAT and gratuities is permitted only in exceptional circumstances.

The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) has called for a balanced approach to economic security that safeguards Europe’s innovative pharmaceutical sector while maintaining global competitiveness. EFPIA warns that overly restrictive measures could undermine research, innovation and supply chain resilience, urging policymakers to prioritise collaboration and open trade. The statement follows the European Commission’s announcement of its Economic Security Strategy, which introduces measures to reduce strategic dependencies and protect critical technologies, including pharmaceuticals. The strategy outlines risk assessments, enhanced cooperation with Member States and initiatives to strengthen resilience in sectors such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI) and health.

The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) has called for urgent policy reforms to support the future of Europe's biopharma SMEs. The organisation has highlighted the critical challenges faced by SMEs in securing financial investment and support, emphasising the need for dedicated strategies to help emerging companies succeed in the EU. EFPIA has proposed three main recommendations: pension funds reform to increase private investor liquidity, developing a cost of raising capital index for enabling Euronext to compete against Nasdaq, and establishing a €1bn guarantee fund for limited partners. The organisation warns that current EU pharmaceutical legislation proposals could disproportionately impact SMEs, potentially making nine out of ten SME research and development projects unviable by 2040.