Uncertainty For Pharma At All-Time High As Controversial Finance Bill Returns To French Parliament

Debate on how to manage drug spending continues in France despite an ongoing disagreement between industry and the government about whether there was €1.2bn overspend on medicines in 2024.

France's controversial social security financing bill has returned to parliament amid a €1.2bn drug overspend dispute.
Key Takeaways
  • The social security financing bill that brought down the last government in France has returned to the lower house of the parliament for debate.
  • The final version of the bill that included €1bn of price cuts aimed at medicines could emerge from the parliamentary process with more punitive measures due to France’s worsening economic outlook.
  • The government and the French industry association, Leem, are at odds over whether overspending on medicines totaled €1,2bn in 2024.

France’s 2025 social security financing bill (PLFSS), which helped topple the government in December, is making its way back through the legislative process.

Uncertainty for pharmaceutical companies is at an all-time high, and it remains unclear whether the bill will retain €1bn ($1.04bn) of price cuts on medicines, or include more draconian measures...

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