The European Commission wants to position the EU as the world’s most attractive hub for life sciences by 2030, starting with the creation of a single market for clinical trials, according to a draft strategy seen by Euractiv.

Challenged by “fierce global competition” from economies such as the US and China, the Commission aims to maintain Europe as an attractive location for the industry. Clinical trials are described as a key driver of this ambition within the European Life Sciences Strategy.

“Urgent action at EU level action is needed, notably in multi-country clinical trials”, reads the strategy, seen by Euractiv.  

To that end, the Commission proposes creating a “single market for clinical trials in Europe”, which would help overcome challenges such as fragmented funding, disconnected infrastructure, and inconsistent data systems.

Research studies that test whether new medical treatments – such as drugs, vaccines, surgical techniques or medical devices – are safe and effective in people are, according to the document, “essential for turning scientific discoveries into real-world healthcare solutions”.  

“Large, private pharmaceutical companies (many of which are based outside Europe)”, would benefit from a European single market, as well as “Europe’s own public researchers, startups, and growing biotech firms”, the document notes.  

Challenges and funding
The Commission sees an urgent need to “develop a long-term, EU-wide strategy for supporting multi-country clinical research”. Therefore, its strategy aims to identify the most efficient and effective models and to create sustainable funding structures that allow the EU to complement investments by member states.

By speeding up the clinical trial process, patients would gain earlier access to innovative treatments. With “timely, robust evidence” and access to advanced, innovative therapies, and medicinal products, a wide range of diseases – including severe, chronic or rare conditions for which standard treatments often fall short – could be addressed.

Investment, the Commission argues, could also “strengthen economies by supporting medical innovation” and reinforce Europe’s “position as a global leader in biomedical innovation.”

“By advancing homegrown innovations, Europe can reduce dependency on external markets and ensure faster, more equitable access to life-changing therapies for its population”, the draft document adds.

The strategy, which “will be implemented through a multi-stakeholder approach,” concludes with a commitment by the Commission to report on its implementation by 2028.

(bms, aw)