France Researchers at the Institut Pasteur in Paris have become the first in Europe to fully sequence the genome of the 2019-nCoV coronavirus – putting the Institut at the forefront of developing a vaccine for the virus.   As of the 4th February 2020, the Coronavirus 2019-nCoV, originating in the Chinese…

Czech Republic Increasing consolidation and digitalization within the Czech pharmacy sector is forcing consumer healthcare firms to rethink their strategies.   Pharmacy Consolidation Within the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region, the pharmaceutical supply chain is relatively fragmented. However, compared to its neighbours, the Czech Republic has undergone a rapid consolidation and…

Belgium After reaching revenues of EUR 2.323 billion in the first six months of 2019, UCB announced on December 18 that it will build an innovative multi-product biological manufacturing facility on their site in Braine l’Alleud, Wallonia, Belgium.   Headquartered in Brussels, UCB is a global biopharmaceutical company developing innovative medicines…

Belgium The second edition of the European Cancer Forum was held in Brussels, Belgium on Tuesday, 29 January 2020. Hosted by MSD in collaboration with the European Cancer Patient Coalition (ECPC), Lung Cancer Europe (LuCE), and Digestive Cancers Europe (DiCE), the theme of this year’s event was “Towards A New Era…

Belgium Jean-Christophe Tellier became UCB’s CEO on January 1, 2015 only a few years joining the company in 2011. Before taking on the role Tellier held positions as executive VP of European Operations and later successfully led UCB’s BioBrands and Solutions division as executive VP as well.   Tellier was trained…

UK Although biotech financing in the UK took a hit last year in large part thanks to uncertainty around Brexit, 2019 was still the British industry’s third-best year on record.   The UK’s exit from the European Union looms large over all British industries, including pharmaceuticals and biotech. Unsurprisingly, therefore, UK…

Hungary Among the efforts of Hungarian stakeholders to determine more efficient pricing and reimbursement structures, there is a common ambition to explore what is considered by many to be the next epoch of healthcare; a value-based system.   The cost of healthcare in Hungary is increasing at least twice as fast…

Hungary In 2016, Hungary transitioned from a second-tier member to a full member of the EU. As Judit Bidló, deputy director general of pricing and reimbursement for Hungary’s National Institute of Health Insurance Fund Management (NEAK), explains, this has already had a significant impact on patient access to innovative new products.…

France These are worrying times for iconic French mid-cap Ipsen. Trials for palovarotene, a treatment for rare bone disorders, have been plagued by setbacks, perhaps contributing to erstwhile CEO David Meek’s decision to quit the firm in December 2019. The company’s share price has since plummeted.   Meek’s resignation to join…

Czech Republic Medicine shortages are a European-wide issue. In 2016, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA) formed a task force to investigate availability issues, including medicines that are authorized but not marketed, and supply chain disruptions in order to improve the continuity of medicine supply across Europe.  …

France France is home to the highest rates of vaccine mistrust in Europe, with a third of French people disagreeing that vaccines are safe, according to the Wellcome Global Monitor survey. However, the country is aiming to shed its reputation for vaccine hesitancy and roll out increased mandatory vaccinations for a…

Romania As anti-vaccination sentiments resurface globally, so have once-eradicated diseases. This situation is especially prevalent in Romania and has become a severe economic, social, and health threat.   Romania’s Struggle with Anti-Vax Sentiments The newly appointed minster of health of Romania—Dr Victor Costache—has announced that mandatory vaccination is a priority for…