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Cancer is among the most significant challenges of our time. It is a societal issue and a growing public health threat, representing the leading cause of death for adults aged under 65 in the EU. Cancers are killing people in the prime of their lives, leading to devastating effects on families and an overall economic impact of more than €100 billion annually in the EU.


At the same time, new therapies, along with novel approaches in prevention, screening, radiotherapy, and surgery, are slowing down deaths from cancers and improving survival rates. Cutting-edge technologies and major advances in the understanding of cancers have enabled unprecedented opportunities. The development of precision oncology and more targeted treatments, where the right cancer treatment is given to the right person at the right time determined by the use of biomarkers, is leading to better outcomes and reduced risk of side effects for patients. CAR-T therapies are transforming the treatment of blood cancers by making it possible for the body to fight back. HPV vaccines prevent most cases of cervical cancers.  Between 2011 and 2022, the survival rate for patients with melanoma has more than doubled. And imagine what can be achieved.

Looking to the future, the pipeline of treatments in development promises further advances with the power to change people’s lives. Cancer remains a key focus of medical science: oncology R&D represents 30% of clinical trials started in 2023. However, many barriers and inequalities still prevent European patients from benefiting fully from these advances.    

We believe in the power of science to make people live longer and feel better. Now more than ever, there is an urgent need to accelerate progress to improve cancer care and build a future where everyone has the best possible chance. This is the mission of the EFPIA Oncology Platform, which brings together 22 companies committed to invest in research and development to discover new therapies that can save lives and improve patients’ quality of life.

As cancers’ burden continues to grow in Europe, there is a collective responsibility to build on the promise of the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan (EBCP) and the EU Mission on Cancer to leave no stone unturned to take action against cancer. At the EFPIA Oncology Platform, we look forward to partnering with policymakers and stakeholders to co-create policy solutions that make the difference for patients and health systems in the EU, today and tomorrow.

 
Our activities

Making the difference for people with cancer and healthcare systems in the EU: the way forward


So, what should be done next to make the difference for people with cancer and healthcare systems in the EU?

Support investments in research and development
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Continuous investment in research, development, and innovation is essential for discovering new therapies and advancing cancer care. However, the EU is facing a serious competitiveness challenge, and Europe’s share of global medicine R&D investment has decreased by 25% in the last two decades. Europe has put competitiveness at the centre of the new EU mandate: fostering a more innovation-friendly environment is imperative.

Key asks:

  • Ensure that the revision of the General Pharmaceutical Legislation (GPL) creates the right ecosystem for the pharmaceutical industry to continue to discover, develop and deliver new cancer medicines in Europe.

  • Ensure a stable and predictable intellectual property (IP) and incentives framework, and champion a stable, fast, effective, and globally competitive regulatory framework.

  • Safe-guard investment in innovation to make healthcare systems sustainable, gain efficiencies, and maximize the value of Euros invested.
Enhance screening programmes
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Regular and systematic screening is crucial to detect cancers at earlier stages, reducing mortality and improving the quality of life of patients, caregivers and families. The recommendation on cancer screening adopted by the Council of the EU in 2022 was a significant step forward, improving existing screening guidelines for breast, colorectal and cervical cancer, and introducing new screening programmes for lung, prostate, and gastric cancer.

Key asks:

  • Assist Member States as they incorporate and implement the recommendation within their national cancer plans.

  • Mobilise dedicated EU funding to support the implementation of the recommendation and foster the knowledge sharing of screening efforts across the EU.
Deliver equitable and faster access to new medicines across the EU
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Innovation is meaningless if patients cannot access it. Currently, there are tremendous delays and disparities in the time it takes for European patients to access new oncology medicines. For cancer patients, every day counts and there is an urgent need to implement solutions that can streamline processes.

Key asks:

  • Work together with all stakeholders to address barriers and delays to access.

  • Maintaining the political momentum and attention for Member States and the European Commission to set up an efficient system of European joint clinical assessments and joint scientific consultations (EU HTA Regulation) which deliver faster decision making at national level, leading to improved access to innovative medicines for patients.

  • Deliver a modern and improved EU marketing authorisation process to improve time to patient access to cancer therapies, including the non-scientific part of the process.

  • Harmonise the application of cancer patient experience data to support regulatory and access decisions across EU Member States.

  • Apply a holistic approach to the overall journey of cancer patients’ access to care and adopt a coherent implementation of the various policy initiatives to avoid duplications and further delays to timelines at national level.
Ensure the right cancer treatment is given to the right person at the right time
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New technologies and improved understanding of cancers are unlocking the opportunities o‑ered by Precision Oncology (PO), which is about identifying the optimal treatment based on each patient’s unique characteristics and needs. PO has the potential to improve outcomes, reduce costs and alleviate the pressure on healthcare systems and workforce.

Key asks:

  • Raise awareness among patients, healthcare professionals, policy makers and payors to advance the uptake of precision oncology. Empower patients with clear, accessible information, enabling them to engage actively with their healthcare providers. Equip healthcare professionals with the knowledge and tools necessary to stay up to date in a rapidly evolving field.

  • Invest in infrastructure and workforce to ensure that every hospital has the infrastructure and well trained multi-disciplinary teams to support advanced diagnostics and therapeutic options.

  • Reform the funding and reimbursement models, foster alignment between treatment and diagnostics assessment, authorization and reimbursement processes – and provide adequate public funding. Invest in novel health economics models that can demonstrate the true value of precision oncology.


Commitment to the implementation of the Europe's Beating Cancer Plan (EBCP) should continue beyond 2025 and be aligned with the EU Cancer Mission vision to improve the lives of 3 million people by 2030. To support the implementation of these crucial initiatives, we call for:

  • The allocation of dedicated funding from the next MFF 2028-2035 to support implementation at national and local levels, and strengthen national cancer mission hubs.
  • The development of a Measurement Matrix framework to assess progress in cancer care, keep all stakeholders accountable, and ensure continuous progress.


Other projects
Health data to improve access to cancer medicines
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The oncology data landscape is fragmented and rapidly evolving, and it can be difficult to have a clear view of the area. Yet effective collection and use of oncology data is essential for diverse improvements in research, treatment, and the efficient running of health systems.

To address this lack of clarity, the EFPIA Oncology Platform has undertaken a research project on the ‘Oncology Data Landscape’. This research has included interviews with a wide range of stakeholders and experts on oncology data.

The project provides a mapping of oncology data sources and initiatives in Europe, and explores ways to make the use of oncology data more effective for patients and health systems. The overall report and narrative should help anyone looking for an overview of the situation of oncology data in Europe. The other materials cover specific aspects in more depth. And looking ahead, the project identifies strategic solutions that could help to improve the current situation.

The project comprises the following resources:

- Overall report: a detailed summary of the research conducted for the Oncology Data Landscape project

- Oncology data narrative: a short, overview presentation on the background to oncology data, main challenges to its use, and proposed solutions

- Data sources and initiatives: summary of data sources and archetypes, use cases for oncology data, and profiles of initiatives that are seeking to transform the way oncology data is used

- Barriers: Overview of barriers to the collection and use of oncology data

- Trends: Identification of trends affecting the health data landscape in Europe

- Strategic solutions: Gaps and opportunities in the oncology data landscape based on use cases and barriers, with three potential initiatives described in detail

- Country profiles: Summary of characteristics of 10 countries in their use of oncology data

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