Farmindustria slams EC generic blocking claims

The European Commission's report into allegations of generic drug blocking by the research-based pharmaceutical industry was denounced as a "distortion of reality" by the director general of the Spanish drugmakers' group, the Farmaindustria, Humberto Arnes. He added that Spain's patent law does not apply to the product but to its manufacture which, he argued, facilitates the introduction of post-patent agents. The Spanish generic sector body, the AESEG, disagrees, stating that existing patent restrictions could cost its members 3.6 billion euros ($4.54 billion) in the next 10 years.

Spain's number one firm wants concentration

Jorge Gallardo, president of Spain's leading drugmaker Almirall, has called for greater concentration in the sector to provide more intensive and cost-effective R&D. He noted that his firm is ranked 71st in the world.