The European Parliament has voted on legislation that aims to change the way medicines are brought to market and accessed in Europe. The pharmaceutical industry and consumer groups have mixed reactions towards the legislation, particularly regarding data protection. The debate revolves around the length of time generic companies are prohibited from using study data from brand-name manufacturers. The parliament voted to reduce the data protection period slightly to seven-and-a-half years, with additional extensions for medicines addressing unmet medical needs, conducting comparative clinical trials, and conducting significant R&D work in Europe. Drug companies seek extended protection, while advocacy groups argue that it increases costs for consumers.
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European Parliament votes in favor of updated pharma legislation
