EU pharma body welcomes president-elect’s mission letter

European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations ( EFPIA) has welcomed a  mission letter from the EU president-elect, which promises to invest in new health sector technologies, promote healthy lifestyles and forge better cooperation within the EU.

In an  announcement earlier today, September 11, the EFPIA’s director general, Nathalie Moll, said Ursula von der Leyen’s letter highlights “key opportunities to deliver more for patients across Europe”.

Moll said the missions stated in the letter, which was addressed to Stella Kyriakides, the commissioner-designate for health, aim to “ensure access and availability of new treatments and technologies today, medical innovation for tomorrow and sustainable healthcare systems in a globally competitive Europe”.

In her letter, von der Leyen asked Kyriakides to look at ways to ensure Europe has the supply of affordable medicines to meet its needs.

“In doing so, you should support the European pharmaceutical industry to ensure that it remains an innovator and world leader,” von der Leyen said.

In its reply, the EFPIA said the EU should implement an industrial strategy that protects Europe’s IP framework and ensures that the European pharmaceutical industry “remains an innovator and world leader” so that it continues to attract life sciences investment.

Additionally, it said it shares von der Leyen’s ambition of delivering on the potential of healthcare data for patients in Europe.

“Promoting health-data exchange and supporting research on new preventive strategies, as well as on treatments, medicines, medical devices and outcomes, while ensuring citizens have control over their own personal data is a welcome focus,” the EFPIA said.

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