Brussels, 12 December 2023 - The EuropaBio Patient BioForum convened on 30 November 2023, bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders, including patient advocates, representatives from the biotech community, and European Institutions.

The roundtable, titled “Advancing Solutions for Unmet Medical Needs”, focused on crucial discussions surrounding the revision of the EU General Pharmaceutical Legislation (GPL) and its implications for addressing unmet medical needs (UMN). The event provided a platform for meaningful exchanges on the expectations and challenges related to the GPL revision and aimed to formulate multi-stakeholder recommendations to ensure patient-centric innovation and support for UMN.

Here are the key takeaways from the roundtable:

1. Inclusive Definition: Stakeholders stressed the need for broad, inclusive UMN definition in the GPL. Involving patient representatives throughout the legislative process was deemed essential.
2. Innovation Foundation: GPL support for incremental innovation was highlighted as crucial for paving the way to breakthrough advancements in therapies, reflecting patients' experiences with burden of disease and treatment.
3. Future-Proofing for Unknown Needs: A life-cycle approach in the GPL, addressing both current and future unknown medical needs, requires substantial investment and a predictable incentive framework.
4. Focus on Underserved Areas: Stakeholders supported an overarching European strategy for rare diseases and emphasised the GPL's role in supporting innovation for diseases lacking satisfactory treatments.
5. Ecosystem Collaboration: While recognising the GPL's importance, stakeholders emphasised the need for coherence across initiatives, including public-private partnerships, and proper implementation of existing legislations.

EuropaBio Director-General Dr. Claire Skentelbery said, “The Patient BioForum underscores the shared commitment of often very diverse stakeholders towards addressing unmet medical needs. The GPL will lay the foundation for innovation behind meaningful advances for European patients. Europe needs to ensure the definition of UMN does not lead to unintended consequences that would restrict innovation to the detriment of patients in need.”

In summary, the EuropaBio Patient BioForum 2023 served as a crucial platform for collaborative discussions, providing valuable insights to shape the future of pharmaceutical legislation in Europe. The roundtable highlighted the shared commitment of stakeholders to address unmet medical needs and foster a supportive environment for patient-centric innovation.

Download the full Event Report and Press Release below.