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[BUSINESS] · Belgium, Germany · 4 sources

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European Union adopts major pharmaceutical legislation reform

The Council of the European Union has adopted a major pharmaceutical reform package, marking the most significant update to EU drug laws in over two decades. The legislation aims to ensure equitable access to safe, effective, and affordable medicines while strengthening the competitiveness of the European pharmaceutical sector.

Key provisions include a standardized eight-year data protection period for new medicines, with the possibility of extending market protection for up to eleven years if specific criteria are met, such as addressing unmet medical needs or conducting comparative clinical trials. The reform also introduces incentives for developing priority antibiotics to combat antimicrobial resistance.

To prevent supply shortages, EU member states will gain the authority to require pharmaceutical companies to provide sufficient quantities of essential medicines. Additionally, the reform seeks to reduce bureaucracy by shortening the European Medicines Agency’s review timelines from 210 to 180 days and introducing electronic patient leaflets.

Entities

Carsten Linnemann · Council of the European Union · European Medicines Agency · European Parliament · European Union · European Union · Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

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