23 September 2025
Each year, approximately 2.7 million people are diagnosed with cancer in Europe – and this number is expected to grow. The EU pharma package is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape EU pharmaceutical legislation, making it more patient-centred by addressing unmet medical needs and ensuring the availability and timely access to life-saving cancer treatments.
Despite the medical and technological developments that have resulted in a growing number of cancer medicines being available on the European market, many patients still face unmet medical needs. For these patients, targeted treatments are either unavailable or limited.
What’s more, not every patient automatically benefits from innovative treatments, because medicines are unaffordable or simply not available in their country of residence. For example, between 2020 and 2023, cancer patients in Germany had access to 54 out of 56 EU-authorised medicines, while patients in Malta could only access two. The result? Deepened inequalities across Europe.
That is why the Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL) and the European Fair Pricing Network (EFPN) are launching a new position paper to support the ongoing trilogue discussions on the EU pharma package.
ECL – EFPN position paper – EU pharma package (September 2025)