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BEUC welcomes Commission fines on Teva and Cephalon for agreement to delay marketing of generic sleep drug
Press releases
BEUC welcomes Commission fines on Teva and Cephalon for agreement to delay marketing of generic sleep drug
- PDF Document - 96.15 KB

Access to medicines
Antitrust
Pharmaceuticals
Available in English
The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) welcomes the European Commission’s decision today to fine Teva and Cephalon 30 and 30.5 million euros respectively for agreeing not to market a cheaper generic version of Cephalon's drug for sleep disorders, modafinil, in Europe for six years. The “pay for delay” agreement, which the Commission has found to violate EU antitrust rules, allowed Cephalon to charge European patients and healthcare systems higher prices for the drug in the six year period before Teva finally marketed its generic alternative.
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EU unveils ambitious Pharma Strategy to make medicines affordable and available for consumers
Press releases
EU unveils ambitious Pharma Strategy to make medicines affordable and available for consumers
- PDF Document - 106.96 KB

Access to medicines
Pharmaceuticals
Available in English
The EU Commission published its Pharmaceutical Strategy today, aiming to ensure patients timely access to safe and affordable treatment and to support medical innovation and pharma competitiveness. The Strategy brings momentum to effectively address medicine shortages and high prices, a long-standing issue in the EU.
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Consumer groups welcome new EU consumer policy strategy for the next five years
Press releases
Consumer groups welcome new EU consumer policy strategy for the next five years
- PDF Document - 140.4 KB

Consumer policy
Enforcement
Available in English
Today the European Commission adopted the “Consumer Agenda”, its consumer policy strategy for the next five years. It lays down the Commission’s consumer policy objectives and will serve as guidance to include consumer interests in all policy areas. Focus areas are the green and digital transition as well as the post-COVID economic recovery.
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Pharma group Aspen accepts to cut prices of cancer drugs
Press releases
Pharma group Aspen accepts to cut prices of cancer drugs
- PDF Document - 92.4 KB

Access to medicines
Antitrust
Available in English
BEUC applauds the EU Commission for achieving that pharma company Aspen is now ready to lower the price of certain anti-cancer drugs by on average 73% in Europe for the next 10 years. Today’s commitments come after the EU Commission opened an antitrust investigation in May 2017 into whether Aspen breached EU antitrust rules’ ban on dominant companies imposing unfair prices.
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Time to lift the blindfold on medicine prices

Over the past years, the exorbitant prices of new medicines have been making headlines across Europe. Before a new medicine hits a national market, there are usually price negotiations between the drug manufacturer and the national authority. However, there is currently an asymmetry of information in these talks to the disadvantage of national authorities, who must largely negotiate in the dark.

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As consumers are faced with a growing amount of information from different sources, we advocate for high quality and non-promotional information about health products.

The ageing of the population, rising healthcare costs and the economic crisis are challenging the sustainability of healthcare systems and consumers’ access to treatments.

Health scandals such as the weight-loss drug Mediator and the faulty PIP breast implants keep undermining consumers’ confidence in the safety of available health products and their oversight by the competent authorities.

  • Ensure consumers have access to high quality healthcare in all EU Member States
  • Guarantee consumers benefit from safe and innovative treatments
  • Allow consumers to make informed choices regarding their health