2023 Edition
Economies are built on the need for progress and it is the rise of economies beyond the US and Europe which have proved most influential in changing the global life sciences sector. In the last decade countries like China and Japan have worked to liberalize their markets and grant more access to foreign investors. For pharmaceutical companies this opening has proved particularly attractive, with many choosing to head East for new partnerships which support R&D and manufacturing.
Whilst the US market has remained strong by supporting competitive prices for pharmaceuticals, European countries have found themselves fighting over a shrinking slice of the pie. Company leaders in Western European countries are working increasingly hard to convince their global counterparts that their market is worth a bigger punt, whilst turning up the heat on national governments to do their bit.
With companies citing European policy and the financial landscape as key factors influencing decreasing investment, it is unsurprising that sector leaders have reacted badly to the European Commission’s new legislative proposals. Constructed to support patient access and the affordability and availability of medicines, the Commission’s proposals tinker with Europe’s intellectual property framework to the detriment of companies that manufacture innovative drugs. Whilst there is no way to predict with certain whether proposed EU legislation will prompt life sciences businesses to conclusively turn away from investing in European countries, there is ample evidence to suggest that it’s a possibility.
The Life Sciences Market monitor draws a line in the sand for 2023, analyzing which markets are most attractive to pharmaceutical companies keen to invest, do business and collaborate with national health systems. As policy and regulatory changes influence business decisions in years to come, H/Advisors will continue to report on the state of the global landscape and shine a spotlight on national indicators that will influence where investment is prioritized.
Aideen Ginnell, European Director
H/Advisors Cicero
aideen.ginnell@h-advisors.global