European Pharma Giants Warn of Losing Ground to US and China
Nine major pharmaceutical firms urge European leaders to act as the continent falls behind rivals in drug development and investment.
Nine of Europe's largest pharmaceutical companies have issued a stark warning to national leaders, stating that the continent is "losing ground" to competitors in the United States and China in the race to develop new medicines and secure investment capital.
The chairs of the nine firms — including British giants AstraZeneca and GSK, as well as Danish heavyweight Novo Nordisk — addressed their letter to Andy Burnham and the heads of other European governments on Tuesday, calling for concrete measures to "safeguard our companies' future."
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The joint appeal signals mounting anxiety within the European pharmaceutical sector over its competitive standing in global drug development. The industry has long relied on Europe's scientific talent and regulatory frameworks, but growing concerns over funding gaps, market access hurdles, and pricing pressures appear to be driving executives to seek political intervention at the highest levels.
While the letter's specific policy demands were not disclosed in full, the coordinated nature of the outreach — spanning multiple countries and some of the sector's most prominent boardrooms — underscores the breadth of concern. Analysts have previously noted that the US benefits from faster regulatory pathways and higher drug pricing, while China has dramatically scaled up domestic pharmaceutical research and manufacturing capacity in recent years.
The appeal arrives at a sensitive moment for European industrial policy, as governments across the continent grapple with competitiveness challenges in multiple sectors simultaneously. Whether the letter triggers a coordinated legislative or funding response from European capitals remains to be seen. Continue reading at Business | The Guardian.
