Gaza

Gaza’s health crisis will last for generations

Desperate situation underlines the need to for medical evacuation and a long-term plan to rebuild health infrastructure

Vaccines

EU jointly procures Spanish COVID-19 vaccines for winter

Europe buys four million doses of protein-based COVID-19 developed and made in Europe

Inside EU Health

Inside EU Health: Trilogue horse trading to the EU's global talent search

Pharma reforms, tobacco taxes, patient concerns, and Europe's aging population.

Safe abortion

‘My Voice, My Choice’ meets Commission after landmark petition on access to abortion

The ‘My Voice, My Choice’ campaign group met with the Commission following their collection of 1.1 million signatures

Tobacco Taxation Directive

EU Commissioner warns of ‘toy-like’ vapes ahead of debate on tobacco tax rules

Ahead of next week’s ECOFIN discussions on tobacco taxation, Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra speaks out against nicotine alternatives

Inside EU Health

Inside EU Health: From Trump’s latest deal to a possible life sciences investment fund

Inside EU Health: Pfizer strikes Trump-era drug deal, Brussels battles pharma package, Denmark caps drug prices, Sanofi raided, Poland mulls alcohol ban & Gastein forum kicks off.

Life Sciences

EU research ministers support ‘European Life Sciences Investment Fund’

EU research ministers push for bolder action to secure Europe’s life sciences future

Pfizer

Pfizer strikes deal with US to lower drug prices

Trump demands that major pharmaceutical companies reduce prices or face consequences pays off

Competition

Update: Commission carries out raids on vaccine manufacturer Sanofi

Vaccines sector company suspected of anti-competitive disparagement

EU/US Trade

EU calms fears as Trump tweet raises alarm on tariffs – but drug-pricing pressure remains

Concern over a tweet threatening to impose 100% tariffs on pharma companies was quickly quelled, but concerns on pricing remains

NCDs

UN Declaration on NCDs is strong on ambition, but short of means

The UN declaration on noncommunicable diseases and mental health receives broad support, but critics say the content is weak

AMR

EU launches €253 million partnership to combat antimicrobial resistance

EU-supported partnership unites 53 organisations across 30 countries to fight AMR

NCDs

WHO: $3 per person could save 12 million lives

Ahead of the Fourth UN High-Level Meeting (HLM4) on 25 September 2025 on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health, the World Health Organization (WHO) is urging governments to scale up cost-effective interventions to save lives. "Noncommunicable diseases and mental health conditions are silent killers, robbing us of lives,"

Critical medicines

Auditors say the EU must strengthen its response to critical medicine shortages

In a special report, published today (17 September), the European Court of Auditors (ECA) warns that critical medicine shortages continue to arise, posing a threat to health across the EU. “Medicine shortages can have severe consequences for patients, compromise public health and come at a high cost for doctors, pharmacies

AMR

Danish Presidency calls for more decisive joint action on antimicrobial resistance

Health ministers recommitted to strengthening their response to antimicrobial resistance, following a call for more action from WHO/Europe Region Director Hans Kluge. At yesterday’s informal Council for EU/EEA health ministers in Copenhagen (16/09), ministers covered a wide range of issues with sessions on life sciences and

Over-the-counter medicines

‘Medicines are not sweets!’ campaign

EU/EEA national medicines agencies have launched their first joint campaign for the proper use of over-the-counter medicines.

AMR

ECDC calls for urgent action on the spread of drug-resistant fungus

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has issued a warning about the continued spread of Candidozyma auris (C. auris) in European hospitals.  C. auris is a species of yeast that was designated as a priority fungal pathogen by the World Health Organization in 2022. First discovered in

Global Health Resilience Initiative

A ‘Global Health Resilience Initiative’, but where’s the beef?

Yesterday (10 Sept.), the Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, announced in her State of the Union address that the EU would present a new “Global Health Resilience Initiative”, but there was little detail about what she had in mind. The new initiative came as a surprise, not least because

Novo Nordisk

Novo Nordisk to cut 9,000 jobs in global restructuring

Novo Nordisk has announced plans to cut 9,000 jobs to refocus the business on its core diabetes and obesity drugs. The move affects approximately 5,000 positions in Denmark and amounts to an 11% reduction in its global workforce of 78,400 employees. The decision will be a blow

Tobacco

Spain takes aim at all cigarette alternatives under draft tobacco bill

The Spanish Council of Ministers has approved a draft bill (9/9) to amend its legislation to further tighten tobacco regulations taking aim at a wide range of cigarette alternatives. What? The draft introduces a legal definition and specific regulation for tobacco-related products, including e-cigarettes (with or without nicotine), nicotine

SOTEU

Commission reports on progress ahead of 'State of the EU' address

When Ursula von der Leyen steps up to deliver the annual State of the Union (SOTEU) address on Wednesday (10 September), all eyes will be on the priorities she sets for the year ahead. Modeled on the U.S. State of the Union address of the president, the speech will

Ebola

World Health Organization confirms Ebola outbreak in DRC

The World Health Organisation confirms an Ebola outbreak in DRC after samples tested positive. The outbreak, in the remote area of Bulape and Mweke in Kasai province, has already resulted in 15 deaths, including four healthcare workers, with 28 further suspected cases. “We’re acting with determination to rapidly halt

Critical Medicines Act

MEPs rally behind Sokol’s report on Critical Medicines

Yesterday afternoon (01/09), the European Parliament’s Health Committee (SANT) discussed MEP Tomislav Sokol’s (EPP, Croatia) report on the Critical Medicines Act. MEPs were supportive of strengthening the proposal to tackle the availability of medicines, addressing the problem of shortages, and making the EU less dependent on external

EU/US Trade

Pharma seeks strategic dialogue to secure its future

Welcome to the first Vital Signs post! EU/US Trade: While many of us will have used the summer break to recharge our batteries, spare a thought for Maroš Šefčovič, EU Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, who was locked in negotiations with the United States throughout July and August,

News

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