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Sandoz on the offensive against Chinese antibiotics on sale <\/p>\n
Keystone-SDA <\/p>\n
Swiss pharma firm Sandoz is stepping up its criticism of imports of low-priced antibiotics from China.\n<\/p>\n
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May 28, 2026 – 15:44\n<\/p>\n
+Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox<\/a><\/p>\n The Swiss generics giant has submitted a draft complaint to the European Commission.<\/p>\n The group is targeting imports of penicillin \u2013 the active ingredient in amoxicillin \u2013 from China. According to the company, Chinese suppliers are heavily subsidised and can therefore offer antibiotics at very low prices, distorting competition.<\/p>\n \n More<\/p>\n More <\/p>\n New treatments\n <\/p>\n Swiss inaction threatens global antibiotic development push <\/p>\n This content was published on <\/p>\n Jul 8, 2025 <\/p>\n Switzerland risks stalling global antibiotic innovation amid rising resistance. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Read more: Swiss inaction threatens global antibiotic development push \u201cUp to 90% of the world\u2019s antibiotic active substances are now produced outside Europe, mainly in China. This situation constitutes a critical strategic vulnerability, with direct consequences for public health, crisis preparedness and Europe\u2019s ability to defend its status in a rapidly changing world,\u201d stated CEO Richard Saynor.<\/p>\n Sandoz is particularly critical of the role of Chinese suppliers, who influence the market with heavily subsidised and therefore cheap antibiotics. \u201cI don\u2019t think that politicians are unaware of this,\u201d explained the CEO in an interview with AWP. He believes that European decision-makers have been \u201ctoo hesitant for too long\u201d.<\/p>\n \n More<\/p>\n More <\/p>\n Research frontiers\n <\/p>\n Your questions answered: Are there alternatives to antibiotics? <\/p>\n This content was published on <\/p>\n Nov 20, 2025 <\/p>\n Readers asked us a host of questions about rising resistance to antibiotics. We have some answers. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Read more: Your questions answered: Are there alternatives to antibiotics? Saynor criticized policymakers for reacting too slowly. In his view, antibiotics are often valued only for their low price rather than their essential role in healthcare. For Richard Saynor, this is the fundamental problem. \u201cAntibiotics are systematically undervalued, even though they play a central role in healthcare.\u201d<\/p>\n Sandoz says it is fighting to keep Europe\u2019s last remaining antibiotics plant in operation, the Kundl site in Austria, which celebrates its 80th anniversary on Thursday.<\/p>\n Saynor acknowledges, however, that the European Union has made progress in the area of antibiotic supply under the \u201cAlpbach Communiqu\u00e9\u201d, adopted at the end of a forum held in the Austrian town of Alpbach. <\/p>\n This memorandum stipulates that at least 30% of European countries\u2019 supplies should come from suppliers on the continent.<\/p>\n The draft European law on essential medicines (Critical Medicines Act) is also a step in the right direction, but the details of its implementation remain unclear, says the Sandoz CEO.<\/p>\n The multinational is calling on Europe to follow the example of India, which already imposes minimum import prices to protect its own antibiotic production.<\/p>\n \n More<\/p>\n More <\/p>\n Health systems\n <\/p>\n Switzerland to strengthen measures against antibiotic resistance <\/p>\n This content was published on <\/p>\n Nov 3, 2025 <\/p>\n The federal government intends to strengthen measures against antibiotic resistance and support hospitals in setting up appropriate programmes. <\/p>\n![\"pill](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/458418432_highres.jpg\")
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