When we think of the research-based pharmaceutical sector, the first things that come to mind are medicines. This is no surprise: the industry’s raison d’être is to deliver therapies and vaccines that improve people’s lives.  

However, there is more to it than that. Much more. That is why EFPIA has launched More Than Medicine – to highlight the wider impact of our industry on individuals, communities, health systems and economies. Through a dedicated section of our website, supported by data and case studies, More Than Medicine offers a 360˚ view of a dynamic and diverse sector powered by people determined to drive progress.  

It begins, of course, with our mission to improve health. This means not only meeting the needs of people living with cancer, heart disease, diabetes, neurological conditions and rare diseases, but also preventing infections and reducing the risk of illness.  

Take vaccines, for example. The recent pandemic illustrated the industry’s unique capacity to respond to a moment of collective crisis by developing COVID-19 vaccines. This success built on decades of investment in immunisations which prevent millions of deaths and cases of long-term disabilities from diseases such as measles, polio, diphtheria, and tetanus.  

Routine immunisation has resulted not only in healthier and longer lives with reduced hospitalisation costs, but also in better education and productivity: vaccinated children attend school more regularly, have better cognitive performance.  

Solving societal challenges – together   

Our restless search for new vaccines and therapies is the reason why the research and development (R&D) pipeline currently counts an estimated 8,000 products. The expertise, knowledge and skills that we use to turn science into the medicines and vaccines that society needs are the key to solving major societal challenges – including antimicrobial resistance (AMR).  

A rich history of innovation, matched with sustained investment, can respond to the urgent threat posed by AMR. Industry’s commitment is exemplified by the AMR Action Fund, which aims to bring between two and four new antibiotics to market by 2030, and by our determination to find novel ways to accelerate breakthroughs in this field of research.  

As well as investing in the products of the future, industry is working with health systems to pioneer digital health tools, drive patient engagement and build long-term public-private partnerships to tackle the biggest challenges of our time.    

In doing so, we remain committed to responsible innovation. We are committed to high ethical and environmental standards in our manufacturing, in our interactions with healthcare professionals, and in striving to Replace, Reduce and Refine (3Rs) the use of animal models in research. By driving greener ways to produce and distribute products, EFPIA and its member companies are at the forefront of advances that will have a positive impact in other sectors as well as on the environment. 

Investing in people and infrastructure 

Finally, the economic impact of R&D and manufacturing is significant. The pharmaceutical industry is a major employer and investor in Europe with a substantial economic footprint. Companies pay salaries, support suppliers and pay taxes; they drive research and build manufacturing capacity; boost trade and contribute to the European economy.  

Research-based pharmaceutical companies are a magnet for talent, an anchor for investment, and a hub for wider life-sciences innovation. When a company invests in a city or town, it builds links with universities, creates opportunities for start-ups and service companies and adds a creative spark that drive scientific knowledge forward. And, by investing in people and infrastructure, the industry can deliver medicines and vaccines that prevent or treat illness – allowing people to continue to contribute to the economy.  

The industry’s contribution to the European economy has risen strongly by every measure over the past two decades. Taken together, these trends paint a picture of an industry vital to Europe’s economy.  

So, yes, EFPIA and its member companies are focused on meeting the needs of patients and health systems. Our industry is about #MoreThanMedicine.  

>> Explore the dedicated section to learn how the research-based pharmaceutical industry is delivering More Than Medicine.