Belgian parties seek pharma revamp focused on talent, innovation, and digital transformation [Advocacy Lab Content]

The future of Belgium’s pharmaceutical industry is under scrutiny as competition challenges Belgian success. Leading Belgian politicians discussed revamping pharma’s road map in a recent conversation with Euractiv.

“The federally voted roadmap turns out to be ‘an empty box’, with necessary execution decrees still pending. This creates uncertainty for an industry making far-reaching commitments without clear compensations,” Kathleen Depoorter of the Flemish party (N-VA/ECR) told Euractiv.

N-VA calls for “a system of rapid access similar to France, with immediate reimbursement following market authorisation”, highlighting challenges around defining unmet medical needs—a problem that persists at the European level as well.

Minister Vandenbroucke’s proposal of criteria for unmet and social medical needs based “on a limited Sciensano study” has raised concerns due to low participation rates.

Moreover,  it’s argued that the introduction of unmet medical needs and compassionate use in orphan drugs could hinder innovation, despite current incentives yielding over 200 new molecules.

N-VA emphasises the importance of maintaining Belgium’s leading position and the need for Europe to increase its strategic pharmaceutical production capabilities. Depoorter suggests that “a multi-year pharma plan is needed to provide certainty for the industry and preserve Flanders as a pharma valley for Research & Development.”

Following recommendations from the Observatory for the Pharmaceutical Industry (OFI), N-VA aims to maintain an attractive R&D ecosystem by supporting legal innovation deductions and introducing what is referred to as ‘the Delay Effect.’

Depoorter said: “Incentives for R&D at the Flemish level and sharing medical data are essential to improve competitiveness with the US and Asia.”

Challenged on many fronts

Flemish party Open VLD (Renew) President Tom Ongena highlighted the challenges ahead, explaining that neighbouring countries are enticing pharmaceutical companies with substantial investments and that the European Clinical Trial Regulation—which harmonises procedures for clinical drug trials—has a tangible impact on Belgium.

The number of clinical trials conducted within Belgium is decreasing.

Ongena champions the Biopharma R&D consultation platform initiated by Prime Minister Alexander De Croo to address these issues.

“The goal is to sustain our cutting-edge ecosystem, enabling continued innovation in the biopharmaceutical sector. Key focus areas include talent retention, patient-centric innovation, and digital transformation.”

A multi-year pact, EU industrial strategy

Open VLD calls for a multi-year pact with industry to safeguard Belgium’s position.

Ongena remarked on the broader European context, in which Europe faces twin transitions—green and digital—and regulatory challenges that threaten competitiveness.

He said: “The incoming European Commission and Parliament must prioritise the development of a comprehensive European industrial strategy. Prime Minister Alexander De Croo is already laying the groundwork for this ambitious endeavour during Belgium’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union.”

Also, Wouter Beke of CD&V (EPP) is taking a stance in favour of a new pharmaceutical agreement with the industry.

“Innovation must be an absolute priority, but it should go hand in hand with the pharmaceutical industry’s responsibility to ensure the accessibility and pricing of medications,” Beke told Euractiv. “This requires ongoing dialogue between the government and the industry.

CD&V advocates for solidarity among European Union member states to strengthen Europe’s position. They stress the need to address medicine shortages and reduce reliance on external countries like China and India.

“The challenge is inherently European, and CD&V calls for collective action. Investing in a diversified supply chain and promoting European production are essential steps,” Beke told Euractiv.

Critical Medicines Alliance signals progress

According to Kathleen Van Brempt of Vooruit (S&D), the EU is taking steps in the right direction to address the issue of medicine shortages. “The implementation of the Critical Medicines Act and the establishment of the Critical Medicines Alliance signal progress,” she told Euractiv.

Her goal is clear: to ensure that Europe regains the capacity to domestically produce the most critical medicines by stimulating production within European borders through strategic purchasing policies and targeted funding. “These measures are essential to uphold our healthcare systems,” Van Brempt said.

For Van Brempt, scientific research and the development of novel medicines and therapies must pivot toward unmet societal healthcare needs—placing patients at the forefront.

“Rather than prioritising profitability, we must focus on addressing real health challenges. Take antibiotics, for instance; we face an enormous hurdle. The recurring conclusion remains consistent: these challenges transcend national boundaries and necessitate intensified collaboration among all member states.”

Addressing most pressing needs

Petra De Sutter, a member of the Groen (Greens) party, states that a new future-proof EU pharmaceutical policy puts the patient at the centre.

“It is crucial that Europe provides incentives that simultaneously stimulate and guide the development of medicines in the right direction,” De Sutter told Euractiv.

The focus should be on developing medicines that address the most pressing societal needs and whose added value is unequivocally evaluated.

De Sutter also prioritises innovation, scientific research, and the development of new technologies to tackle the significant challenges we face. “We are less coquettish about it than other parties and, above all, do not reduce the discussion on innovation to a blank cheque for industry,” said De Sutter.

De Sutter highlights that progress in medicine has significantly contributed to increased life expectancy and improved quality of life, adding “We can be particularly proud of the Belgian contribution to it. In terms of impact, Dr Janssen deserved much more than Father Damien to be the ‘Greatest Belgian. Belgium has become a country with a particularly favourable ecosystem for drug development and production, not least due to several tax incentives and a large presence of pharmaceutical companies.”

[By Nicole Verbeeck, Edited by Vasiliki Angouridi, Brian Maguire | Euractiv’s Advocacy Lab]

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