The latest stories from Spain’s booming healthcare and life science industry. Spain still leads Europe for clinical trial numbers, while a recent meeting between Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez and Roche CEO Thomas Schinecker on a new manufacturing agreement speaks to global pharma’s continued focus on the country. In other news, profits are up at Almirall, while fellow local firm Grifols is stagnating, the country’s chronic shortage of oncology nurses, and why Spain’s booming economy is coming up against policy inaction.
Spain again tops Europe in clinical trials (European Biotechnology)
Spain has once again secured the top position in Europe for clinical trials. According to various Clinical Research Organisations at BioSpain 2025 (7–9 October, Barcelona), this is largely due to the speed with which the Spanish Medicines Agency (AEMPS) approves clinical studies.
With 930 new approvals for drug trials, Spain clearly led Europe, particularly in oncology and studies involving new modalities. “Spain’s comparatively low cost structure has also contributed to its development as Europe’s leading location,” said Martin Krauss, CEO of the CRO FGK GmbH, in an interview with European Biotechnology at BioSpain. Currently, Spain ranks third globally as a location for clinical trials.
The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, has held a meeting at the Moncloa Palace with the CEO of the pharmaceutical group Roche, Thomas Schinecker, who shared details of a new agreement which will be signed in the coming days with Rovi, to manufacture a new drug entirely in Spain to treat type II diabetes and obesity.
At the meeting, which was also attended by Rovi CEO, Juan López-Belmonte, and Roche Spain’s general manager, Patrick Wallach, Thomas Schinecker explained that they will collaborate to manufacture a new treatment, in advanced clinical development, which will be marketed worldwide. The initiative will create skilled jobs and boost Spain’s capacity in the field of biomedical innovation, in addition to generating an economic impact on the country of more than 2 billion euros.
Grifols stagnates after new doubts arise regarding cash flow (Finanzas, in Spanish)
Deutsche Bank analysts are extremely cautious about Grifols and consider the conversion of EBITDA into cash flow insufficient.
Grifols crashes against a weakening dollar and cools the market
Bearish funds are putting pressure on Grifols with €60M in short positions ahead of earnings.
Almirall consolidates the change of cycle (Ara)
The pharmaceutical company earned 39 million euros in the first nine months of 2025.
Pharmaceutical company Almirall increased its profits fivefold in the first three months of the year compared to the same period last year, according to a statement issued by the company to the Spanish National Securities Market Commission (CNMV). The company’s profits rose from €7.2 million in the first three quarters of 2024 to €39.1 million in 2025.
Shortage of professionals: the “cancer” of Spanish healthcare (La Razon, in Spanish)
Every year more cases of cancer are diagnosed in our country, but there are fewer and fewer oncology nurses to care for them . This situation reflects a serious deficiency in the healthcare system: while the disease progresses, specialized care is declining.
The increase in life expectancy, the influence of external agents or conditions, contribute to the rise of this whole group of diseases – as they are not just one – that are characterized by abnormal and uncontrolled cell growth.
Talking about cancer means talking about care . The social landscape of cancer is changing and requires advanced strategies and organizational models where nurses are essential components of the system. Beyond administering treatments and adhering to protocols, the role of the oncology nurse is defined by their ability to support the patient with empathy, knowledge, and commitment. Despite this, this area of our profession often receives neither the recognition nor the resources it deserves.
Spain’s booming economy collides with a barren politics (FT)
Spain is full of pride at being the world’s fastest-growing advanced economy for the second year running. But behind that hearty boom is a weakness that still weighs heavily: Spain’s riven politics.
For while the economy is expanding, there are signs it is not evolving fast enough to sustain the momentum. Toxic domestic politics keeps throwing obstacles in the way.
