Ensuring patients have faster, more equitable access to new medicines - and how Europe can close the investment gap on other parts of the world - has been the subject of significant debate in the past months.

We believe that the Parliament has voted through certain amendments that have enhanced the European Commission’s original proposals. A move welcomed by industry.

Despite some improvement, the EP position reduces regulatory data protection by six months. It is difficult to understand how reducing incentives to research, develop and manufacture new medicines and vaccines could ever be in the best interest of Europe or European patients.