European Notebook: EMA Conflict Of Interest Rules; EU Unitary Patent; EMA Adverse Event Literature Screening

25 May 2015

• By John Davis

EMA tightens rules on the revolving door between industry and scientific (if not regulators); the European unitary patent proposal survives Spain's judicial challenge; Switzerland amends its drug pricing procedures, and more in this month's column.

The European Medicines Agency is tightening its procedures to stop its scientific experts continuing to participate in any of its activities if they intend to become an employee of a pharmaceutical company, in a rule announced May 6.

The new guidance extends the current ban on such experts being on European Union scientific committees such as the Committee...