EuropaBio Welcomes The Outcomes Of The High Level Pharmaceutical Forum And Calls For A Seamless Policy Framework To Support Patients And Research

Main Category: Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry
Also Included In: Conferences
Article Date: 03 Oct 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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EuropaBio welcomes the outcomes of the High Level Pharmaceutical Forum, which, for the first time in Europe, gathered all healthcare stakeholders to discuss the three key issues that dramatically slow down patient access to progress in medicine: the level of information available to patients, the understanding of the social, medical and economic value of innovative treatments and the identification of mechanisms to facilitate timely patient access to the right treatments.

EuropaBio strongly supports the continuation of the multi-stakeholder discussion, especially in the fields of Relative Effectiveness and Pricing & Reimbursement, in order to ensure that patient-centered healthcare systems are established in Europe. "To avoid short sighted and budget-driven healthcare, we must work with all stakeholders so that decisions on healthcare do not inhibit patient access to the best innovation or hinder the further development of the outstanding potential that the biotech sector can bring to patients, to disease management and to healthcare systems" said Mr. Andrea Rappagliosi, Chair of EuropaBio's Healthcare Council.

The healthcare biotech industry needs a predictable environment in order to take advantage of the great benefits of valuable innovation for the diseases that present today's biggest medical challenges. Biotech innovation in healthcare is already opening new avenues in cancer diagnosis and treatment and is fostering research into rare diseases as well as development of orphan medicinal products. Moreover, pharmacogenetics and -genomics and biomarkers create the way to personalized treatments targeted to specific patient populations for many clinical conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular, neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases.

EuropaBio represents over 1800 SMEs - approximately 80% in the area of healthcare biotech. These European healthcare biotechnology companies are led by some of the most innovative and brightest scientists in Europe, who need a predictable long-term framework in which to anchor their research and to attract investment to Europe.

"EuropaBio welcomes the outcomes of the High Level Pharmaceutical Forum. However, Europe's policy-makers can do more to support the healthcare biotech sector - in line with the original mandate of the High Level Pharmaceutical Forum 'to discuss the competitiveness of the European pharmaceutical industry and related public health considerations'. Policy-makers across member states and the EU need to work with each other and involve all stakeholders - including industry - to create a seamless policy framework that industry can rely on when making business decisions affecting Europe's scientists, patients and industry," said Willy De Greef, EuropaBio Secretary General.

About EuropaBio

EuropaBio is the European Association for Bioindustries, solely and uniquely bringing together bioscience companies from all fields of research and development, testing, manufacturing and distribution of biotechnology products. It has 79 corporate members operating worldwide, 5 associate members, 6 BioRegions and 25 national biotechnology associations representing some 1800 small and medium sized enterprises involved in research. Its mission is to promote an innovative and dynamic biotechnology-based industry in Europe.

EuropaBio