Despite a decade of gradual growth, pharma R&D spending in Europe is being outpaced by the US and China and one of the continent’s leading industries needs to be careful it does not fall further behind.
Mind The Gap: Europe Pharma R&D Spend Loses Ground On US While China Climbs
While Europe and the US had similar levels of R&D expenditure until 2014, the gap is widening and China is coming up on the rails, according to a new report from EFPIA, which warns that a coherent life sciences strategy for Europe would help stop the decline.

More from R&D
The biotech is banking on itolizumab’s longer-term efficacy as well as unmet need in frontline acute graft-versus-host disease as it prepares to meet with the FDA.
The head of the Spanish medical dermatology specialist told Scrip that maintaining the status quo will only result in the continent’s life sciences sector slipping further behind the US and China.
Stakeholders are pleading for newly confirmed FDA Commissioner Martin Makary to stand up for the agency's high scientific standards and staff as he begins his term.
With its exon 53-skipping candidate already showing promise in 24-week data, Wave now has 48-week data showing improvements in muscle health and functional outcomes.
More from Scrip
The highlights of recent comments and insights from industry executives on the key issues covered in Scrip.
RemeGen is planning to complete enrolment in the global Phase III RemeMG study with telitacicept in generalized myasthenia gravis by the end of 2025 or early 2026. The Chinese firm has already sidelined two other global Phase III trials with the molecule to prioritize the indication.
Private Company Edition: The latest group of drug developers to announce venture capital financings is remarkable for its geographic diversity, from Character Biosciences’ $93m series B round in the US to Augustine’s $85m series B in Belgium to a $29.2m series C for Aculys in Japan.