# European pharmaceutical medicine access challenges

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/european-pharmaceutical-medicine-access-challenges
> Updated: 2026-09-14T05:03:21.000Z. Sources: 12. Developments: 2.

European patients face persistent delays in accessing newly authorized medicines. Data from the EFPIA Patients W.A.I.T. Indicator shows that for 168 medicines authorized between 2021 and 2024, significant time gaps remain between authorization and availability, with regional bottlenecks noted in Italy.

This lack of access is compounded by global market dynamics. While the United States accounted for 74.1% of global sales for new active ingredients launched between 2020 and 2024, Europe held only 15.6%. Additionally, China is reportedly accelerating its regulatory and launch capabilities.

A study in The Lancet suggests that United States drug pricing policies, specifically the most-favoured-nation approach, may exacerbate these delays. Researchers found that for 75% of 195 analyzed patented medicines, the revenue lost by lowering US prices would exceed total annual sales in reference countries like France or Germany. To avoid these losses, pharmaceutical companies may delay launching products in lower-priced markets to prevent those prices from being used to set US rates. Following a US executive order on this matter, drug launches in EU markets reportedly fell by approximately 35% over a 10-month period.

## Claims

- A modeling study was published in The Lancet regarding drug pricing policies. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- The study analyzed 195 patented medicines representing $87.9 billion in annual US spending. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- For 75% of the medicines studied, potential losses from lowering US prices would exceed total annual sales in reference countries. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- Companies may delay market launches in low-priced reference countries to avoid matching those prices in the US. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- US drug pricing policies can impact global access to medicines. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- Delayed drug launches in Europe could negatively impact the health and quality of life of patients with serious conditions. (single source)
- Drug launches in EU markets fell by approximately 35% in the 10 months following the US executive order. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-14: US drug pricing policy could delay medicine access in Europe

A Lancet study warns that US drug pricing policies may cause pharmaceutical companies to delay launching new medicines in Europe to avoid lowering US prices.

10 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/us-drug-pricing-policy-could-delay-medicine-access-in-europe

### 2026-09-11: European pharmaceutical access faces delays amid global competition

New data shows persistent delays in European patient access to innovative medicines, with Italy facing regional bottlenecks and the US and China leading in global pharmaceutical market share.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/european-pharmaceutical-access-faces-delays-amid-global-competition

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Cite as: European pharmaceutical medicine access challenges. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/european-pharmaceutical-medicine-access-challenges