The number of people diagnosed with cancer in Europe has increased by almost 60% between 1995 and 2022, representing an escalating burden on European healthcare systems. Cancer is projected to become the leading cause of death in the EU by 2035, already accounting for almost one in four deaths. EFPIA and its members are committed to supporting, and working together with the cancer community to achieve better outcomes for people with cancer in Europe, and have identified four priority areas to achieve this:

• Support investments in research and development

  Continuous investment in research, development, and innovation is essential for discovering new therapies and advancing cancer care. However, the EU is facing a serious competitiveness challenge, and Europe’s share of global medicine R&D investment has decreased by 25% in the last two decades. Europe has put competitiveness at the centre of the new EU mandate: fostering a more innovation-friendly environment is imperative.

• Enhance screening programmes:

  Regular and systematic screening is crucial to detect cancers at earlier stages, reducing mortality and improving the quality of life of patients, caregivers and families. The recommendation on cancer screening adopted by the Council of the EU in 2022 was a significant step forward, improving existing screening guidelines for breast, colorectal and cervical cancer, and introducing new screening programmes for lung, prostate, and gastric cancer.

• Deliver equitable and faster access to new medicines across the EU:

  Innovation is meaningless if patients cannot access it. Currently, there are tremendous delays and disparities in the time it takes for European patients to access new oncology medicines. For cancer patients, every day counts and there is an urgent need to implement solutions that can streamline processes.

• Ensure the right cancer treatment is given to the right person at the right time:

  New technologies and improved understanding of cancers are unlocking the opportunities offered by Precision Oncology (PO), which is about identifying the optimal treatment based on each patient’s unique characteristics and needs. PO has the potential to improve outcomes, reduce costs and alleviate the pressure on healthcare systems and workforce.