Spain's health innovation drive highlighted by Novartis

Novartis executive Amaya Echevarría stressed the need to accelerate health innovation in Spain. The country authorised 962 clinical trials last year, placing it ahead of most of Europe, with oncology accounting for roughly 40 % of studies. Annual pharmaceutical R&D investment exceeds €1.7 billion, generating a direct economic impact of €27 billion (1.9 % of GDP) and more than 60 000 qualified jobs.

For 2025 Novartis aims to run 257 trials, over half in oncology, leveraging a network of 153 reference centres, 2 857 health professionals and 7 140 patients. The company also operates a radioligand plant in Zaragoza—one of five worldwide—and has built AI‑enabled talent hubs with over 700 experts from 53 nationalities.

Experts at a recent cancer‑research forum acknowledged Spain’s strong basic and clinical research talent but warned that bureaucratic obstacles, limited funding and the lack of a long‑term translational strategy impede progress. They highlighted a two‑year gap between drug approval and patient access, urging greater public‑private collaboration to shorten waiting times toward the EU target of 180 days.