Latest update:
Wednesday, May 18, 2016 - 16:30
16 June 2015
In his inaugural speech at the 21st Annual Conference of the European Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (EGA), EGA President Mr Nick Haggar said that the European industry for generic and biosimilar medicines “fulfils its mission by providing high quality medicines for patients in Europe, increasing their access to effective treatment and partnering for sustainable healthcare”. Mr Haggar pointed out that: there is still a huge opportunity to increase access to medicines through competition in generic medicines across Europe (from 55% to 75% of medicines) to be sustainable and ethical (according to the newly approved Code of Ethical Behaviour of EGA); competition in biosimilar medicines can provide access to gold standard treatments for millions of patients in Europe; the generic and biosimilar industry is developing a model for sustainable pharmaceutical innovations associated with the development and manufacture of value-added products that can improve health outcomes and efficiency in hospitals. Over 230 participants from the industry for generic and biosimilar drugs in Europe met at the 21st Annual Conference of EGA in Berlin. Key partners from the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Commission, the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), patient organizations, national medical regulatory authorities and from the industry for generic and biosimilar drugs discussed important future challenges, among them methods of supporting active lifestyles and health of the EU population, improving the health systems sustainability and implementing the Directive on Falsified Medicines. New initiatives of the industry were presented at the conference, including added value medicines for more efficient healthcare, development of the biosimilar medicines market, involving the industry via social media and the introduction of EGA’s Code of Ethical Behaviour.