Brussels - July 12, 2013 – Following this Wednesday’s launch of IMI2, the follow-up to the first Innovative Medicines Initiative, EFPIA welcomes the publication of the World Health Organization’s Priority Medicines for Europe and the World 2013 update. The report’s comments on research priorities and incentivisation for innovation are an important guidance in determining research agendas, including that of IMI2, a public-private partnership between the European Commission and EFPIA (the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations).

EFPIA supports the WHO Report’s call for alignment between public health needs and incentives for biomedical innovation, and welcomes opportunities to collaborate with all relevant stakeholders to align these objectives in the interests of more equitable patient access to medicines.

EFPIA Director General Richard Bergstrom stated: “I am pleased to see the WHO Priority Medicines report mentions our industry – alongside EU Member States, institutions and decision-makers – as a ‘crucial audience’. As the pharmaceutical industry works to supply patients with new and improved medicines, we can make valuable use of this information in shaping our own goals, as we recognise the need to fill gaps in medical care. To do so we need to take a close look at the incentives that affect investment in R&D.

This will require serious discussion on a few essential topics, from increased harmonisation of health technology assessments, to differential pricing in Europe – we must acknowledge that some economies simply cannot afford to pay as much as others. The bottom line is ensuring that patients have access to innovation in an equal manner, regardless of where they live.”

Peter Hongaard Andersen, Chair of EFPIA’s Research Directors Group and Senior Vice President at Lundbeck added: “The WHO Report is a valuable guide for all research communities, from industry to academia, in determining research agendas. All relevant stakeholders need to be involved in addressing the areas of unmet need outlined by the Report – and the most promising results will come if we work together.

IMI2 is the follow to the first Innovative Medicines Initiative. This public-private partnership between the European Commission and EFPIA has already shown great success in fostering a collaborative spirit in European research and making advances in areas of unmet need, from brain-related disorders to anti-microbial resistance. In addition to advancing R&D, IMI2 aims to advance trends in personalised medicines and to address the regulatory context of drugs development with the hope of speeding translation from innovation to patients.”

About EFPIA: 

EFPIA represents the pharmaceutical industry operating in Europe. Through its direct membership of 33 national associations and 40 leading pharmaceutical companies, EFPIA provides the voice of 1,900 companies committed to researching, developing and bringing new medicines to improve health and quality of life around the world. The pharmaceutical industry invests 30 billion on research and development per year in Europe and directly employs 700,000 people including 116,000 in R&D units in Europe.

EFPIA members are committed to delivering innovative medicines to address unmet needs of patients and reducing the burden of chronic diseases for Europe’s ageing population. EFPIA believes in close cooperation with its stakeholders to help create sustainable healthcare   systems and to develop prompt responses to health threats in Europe.

Media Contact:

EFPIA Communications Team

Communications@efpia.eu

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