Irish pharmaceutical sector quizzes European election candidates on innovation, sustainability and regulation – Euractiv

Irish candidates for the upcoming European Parliament elections will attend a series of healthcare manifesto events organized by the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association, where industry experts, the press and the public will have the opportunity to demonstrate candidates’ support for innovation, sustainability and their regulatory approach to interrogate.

In the Ireland South constituency, held at Sanofi’s premises in Waterford, a panel discussion heard from national and local industry representatives including Oliver O’Connor, IPHA, Ciaran Campbell and Martin O’Leary Sanofi and Gerard O’Leary, Managing Director at Weltec Engineering, Waterford – both spoke about the important role the pharmaceutical industry plays directly and indirectly in the local economy.

The IPHA has said that Ireland’s pharmaceutical innovators are ready to work closely with Europe’s healthcare leaders to enable faster and fairer access to life-enhancing medicines for patients in Ireland and across the EU. Their European election manifesto sets out four key demands from the candidates: better health for all Europeans; creating jobs that matter; supporting innovation; and encouraging sustainability.

Commenting on the panel, Fine Gael’s John Mullins commented: “There is no reason why Europe cannot act as quickly as it did during Covid to ensure patients get timely access to medicines.”

Fianna Fáil candidate Cynthia Ni Mhurchu said: “I will ensure that businesses invest in the region – particularly in the South East – because there is a ready-made skilled workforce in the region. I will take the time to explore these issues further with industry players and stakeholders and will do everything I can to support and develop the pharmaceutical industry – ensuring sustainable employment for graduates – and everyone – in Southern Ireland .”

Sitting Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher spoke about the importance of encouraging clinical trials in Europe and the need for Europe to remain competitive, while Sinn Féin’s Kathleen Funchion said: “It is vital to ensure that political parties work together with stakeholders in the pharmaceutical industry and I am committed to this.”

Dublin constituency

At the constituency event in Dublin, hosted at Pfizer’s Grangecastle site, IPHA’s Oliver O’Connor was joined by Deb Mangone, Country Manager Pfizer Healthcare Ireland, Tracey Walsh Operations Lead Pfizer and Councilor Vicky Casserly, Area Chair for Lucan, Palmerstown and North Clondalkin.

They heard from sitting MEPs, Barry Andrews, Fianna Fáil. Andrews spoke about the importance of clinical trials taking place in Europe and noted how Dublin has developed socially and economically over the past thirty years, mainly as a result of foreign investment in the country from sectors such as biopharmaceuticals.

Another current MEP, Ciaran Cuffe, Greens, Member of the European Parliament’s ITRE Committee, spoke about the challenges the industry faces on environmental issues, but recognized efforts are being made to address the urgent meet needs. Cuffe also referred to the sustainability of medicine use and how this can impact the wider environment.

Social Democrats candidate Sinead Gibney told the audience she values ​​the industry’s contribution to the constituency, but also recognizes the value of medicines to the wider healthcare system and how it therefore supports innovation.

Vicky Casserly during the panel discussion – and standing in for South Dublin County Mayor Alan Edge – outlined the positive benefits of the industry in the area, but also highlighted the impact medicines have on patients, including her son who has a disability. She said that because of his disability, she is acutely aware of the importance of drug development and innovation to ensure people can live fuller, healthier lives.

The four keys questions

In presenting their manifesto to candidates, IPHA calls for policies that prioritize access to new medicines, including vaccines, to improve patient outcomes. Their recommendations include greater strengthening of the European Medicines Agency; ensure a predictable and streamlined EU framework for joint clinical assessment processes; and supporting an EU immunization strategy that strengthens protection against vaccine-preventable diseases for all generations.

They argue that innovation is a key factor in attracting new investments – and should be further supported by strengthening EU intellectual property rights for drug innovation.

While IPHA recognizes that climate change is a critical challenge, it calls for continued financial and advisory support to further encourage sustainability initiatives across Ireland and Europe; and ensuring that environmental risk assessments are implemented at production level, rather than marketing authorization on a product-by-product basis, to avoid creating barriers to patient access to new treatments.

(By Brian Maguire | Euractiv’s Advocacy Lab)

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