EURACTIV - Belgium has become a focal point in Europe's biotech debate after the biotech company Galapagos halted development of its advanced cell therapy programme. The move follows similar withdrawals by Takeda and Novo Nordisk, both of which ended their cell therapy operations to refocus on core areas. Read more
EU PERSPECTIVES - Biotech Act is seen by experts as a major opportunity to strengthen Europe's competitiveness in clinical research and innovation. Commission has now confirmed to EU Perspectives that the proposal will be presented in two parts and that the split is deliberate as 'different sectors within biotech need different approaches.' Read...
EURACTIV - The European Commission is preparing to publish its roadmap to phase out animal testing in chemical safety assessments in early 2026, marking the start of a new implementation phase for Europe's transition to animal-free regulatory science. Read more
EURACTIV - Belgium's 2026 health insurance budget foresees €1.5 billion in extra spending and €470 million in savings, nearly half from the pharmaceutical sector. The new savings proposal led to the breakdown of budget talks between the government and Belgium's pharma sector, and has drawn criticism in parliament, along with a sharp response from...
EU PERSPECTIVES - European health systems are not just short of people. Above all, they are short of protection for the people who keep them running. Lawmakers therefore call for safe-staffing standards and mental health protection. Read more
EU PERSPECTIVES - As the European Parliament's rapporteur for the forthcoming EU Cardiovascular Health Plan, MEP Romana Jerković (S&D/HRV) is clear that prevention must begin by confronting industries fuelling the disease. Above all, she wants to attack tobacco, alcohol, ultra-processed foods, and marketing practices that target children...
EU PERSPECTIVES - The Union's landmark pharma reform moves from technical drafting to political bargaining. Negotiators are preparing for tense debates over how to reward innovation against antibiotic resistance and support treatments for rare diseases. Read more
EURACTIV - The European Union is facing mounting pressure to tighten its wildlife trade rules as gaps in regulation leave the bloc a key destination for trafficked species. Conservation groups and policymakers are calling for sweeping reforms, including criminalising the import of illegally sourced animals and establishing an EU-wide database to...
EURACTIV - When Brussels talks about biotechnology, the focus still falls on health or chemicals. At EIT Food's NextBite Conference on 15 October, Richard Zaltzman, EIT Food's chief executive, told Euractiv there "could definitely be a stronger voice for foods to be explicitly addressed within the Biotech Act." Read more
EURACTIV - The European Union's last Action Plan on Organ Donation and Transplantation ended in 2015, leaving a gap in the policy framework at a time when transplant needs are growing. As member states face increasing demand, persistent inequalities in access, and limited focus on long-term patient care, a renewed EU strategy is gaining urgency. ...