After a disappointing 2012, the year that has just begun could be one of 'rebirth' for global pharmaceutical companies. This was stated by several analysts on the Reuters Health website, according to which the incoming drugs could generate earnings of tens of billions of euros, higher than those lost due to expired patents. According to some estimates by the Deutsche Bank, the new drugs arriving could generate sales of 64 billion euros in the period between 2013 and 2015, while in the same period the shares lost to generics should be 12 billion.
Important innovations are expected in various fields, from cancer, with various companies expected to receive approval from the regulatory authorities in 2013, to diabetes, for which, among others, a new formulation of insulin is expected, to hepatitis C to multiple sclerosis: "It is still early, however, to say that the sector is out of the crisis - explains Simon Friend, analyst at PricewaterhouseCoopers - especially in a period in which governments and insurance companies are very careful about paying for new drugs".Farm industry. The signals coming from the global pharmaceutical industry are positive, but this does not mean that the crisis is over for the sector. This is the opinion of Massimo Scaccabarozzi, president of Farmindustria, according to whom the greatest difficulties are due to the access restrictions imposed by many countries, starting with Italy. "The data on the possible new drugs arriving are very positive, because they are the sign of the fact that the huge investments made in the past produce important innovations, moreover for fundamental diseases such as tumors or diabetes - underlines Scaccabarozzi - from here to say that the crisis is over but the step is a bit long. The main problem in this period is constituted by the limitations on access to medicines that many EU countries, starting with ours, are applying”. In Italy, says the president of Farmindustria, the situation is aggravated by the continuous changes in the regulations, for example in terms of reimbursements: "We hope that with the next government it will be possible to make a 'stability pact' - hopes Scaccabarozzi - in order to restore impetus also for investments in the country, and to solve the problem of delayed access to therapies by patients". Also from the point of view of research, our country is lagging behind: "Even if we do little primary research, Italy has always contributed a great deal to phase three studies - explains the expert - even in this field, however signs are worrying, with a decrease of 25% in the last two years. The country is no longer able to attract investment as it once was”.
Sanofi's comment.
