European pharmaceutical research and development

The study discusses a new European approach to pharmaceutical policy, focusing on research and development of innovative medicines. After examining the European pharmaceutical sector's features, the strengths and weaknesses of the current research and business model, the study explores the need for and the concept of a European permanent infrastructure with a transboundary public health mission.

The European infrastructure for medicines should focus on threats and R&D areas that are underinvested under the current business model. More specifically, the study investigates through an extensive literature review and a targeted survey to international experts from science, industry, public health and institutions, the feasibility of different options in terms of the scope of the mission, legal, organisational and financial arrangements for establishing such European infrastructure.

As a result, the study presents a range of policy options. The most ambitious option considers a European-wide public infrastructure equipped with budgetary autonomy and own research and development capacity. Such an organisation should have the mission to build a portfolio of new medicines and related biomedical technologies until the delivery stage, in partnership with third-party research centres at the national or European level and with companies. It would be the most important global player in biomedical innovation in the world.