ATHENS, 13 June 2013 – Addressing delegates at the 19th EGA Annual Conference in Athens, Gudbjorg Edda Eggertsdottir stressed that generic and biosimilar medicines companies ensuring high-quality manufacturing jobs and know-how should remain in Europe; benefiting society and patients and increasing the competitiveness and innovative capacity of our strategic industry. “The EGA is ready to work with European and national authorities to make the concept of sustainable manufacturing a reality in Europe and calls upon the European Commission to cement the place of generic and biosimilar medicines in Europe and on the global stage in its industrial policy” the EGA President said.
At the same time, the regulatory burden on pharmaceutical manufacturers is increasing, with new EU legislation – both implemented and planned – on falsified medicines, pharmacovigilance, variations, transparency and clinical trials. “It is fundamental for our sector that decision makers strike the right balance between increasing regulatory requirements and the continuous pressure placed on prices to achieve this sustainable industrial environment” commented Beata Stepniewska, EGA Acting Director General.
“With health spending having fallen in Europe for the first time since 1975 – by over 0.5% – there is an urgent need to promote sustainable care in the long term. Generic and biosimilar medicines have their role to play here – for healthcare providers under growing financial pressure – providing greater value medicines in the meantime” said EGA President Gudbjorg Edda Eggertsdottir. It is also vital that European governments view biosimilar medicines as part of the solution to lowering healthcare costs and treating a larger number of patients. A study by the Berlin, Germany-based Institute for Health and Social research (IGES) proposes that between 2007 and 2020, cumulative savings of €11.8 to €33.4 bn can be realised by 8 European countries.
A report made public on 12 June by Steven Simoens, Professor of pharmaco-economics at the Katholieke Universiteit in Leuven, Belgium, backed the conference messages by outlining the importance of introducing demand-side policies targeting physicians, pharmacists and patients in order to guarantee the sustainable provisions of generic medicines in Europe.
The report can be found on the university website.
FURTHER INFORMATION: JULIE CHAUVET