Europe

News of a fresh US investigation into the pharma sector has sparked renewed concerns over the impact that US trade tariffs would have on the generics and biosimilars industry. The AAM has responded with a warning over the potential effects on shortages and access, while Medicines for Europe has proposed five key action areas to bolster the sector in Europe.

A new European initiative will help trial sponsors better understand whether digitization and decentralized clinical trials of drugs generate less carbon than traditional methods.

Proposals to reform Spain’s reference pricing system are out of whack with the national pharmaceutical strategy published in December, six industry associations have warned.

S2 Xpeed is driving the rapid growth of medtech and hardware start-ups in Europe. Operating under a "sweat equity" model, the program helps early-stage companies move from prototype to manufacturing readiness in exchange for equity.

Four key areas for policy reform were identified by industry association Medicines for Europe at its biosimilars conference in early April, as sector chair Isabell Remus set out the importance of removing barriers to biosimilar competition.

The EMA’s latest move towards a more streamlined process for biosimilar registration in Europe was the hottest topic at last week’s annual biosimilars conference held by Medicines for Europe in Amsterdam. Generics Bulletin discusses the new draft reflection paper and its significance for industry, reports on reactions from the event, and reveals the next steps unveiled by EMA officials.

In a historic move for Africa, five products have been backed for approval via a pilot that tested a continental listing process.

Teva should not be able to overturn European fines imposed over a historical “pay-for-delay” arrangement covering Cephalon’s Provigil (modafinil), an advocate general of the CJEU has recommended.

Gedeon Richter has filed its Mochida-partnered tocilizumab biosimilar rival to RoActemra with the European Medicines Agency. But with several biosimilars already having won approval, the market could be competitive.

Accord received positive opinions for its Prolia and Xgeva biosimilars at the latest meeting of the EMA’s CHMP. Meanwhile, Celltrion picked up a nod for another Stelara biosimilar, while Rechon Life Science withdrew an application for human insulin.