Pharmaceuticals: AstraZeneca backs Italian clinical research
The company is investing 66 million, with co-funding from Mimit and the Tech and Biomedical Foundation: 200 healthcare centres and facilities are involved in trialling the new therapies, with an economic impact of 180 million
In the fiercely competitive global race to discover new medicines – in which Europe is losing ground every day to the US, whilst China is making giant strides forward – Italia has secured 66 million in vital investment for clinical research, which will benefit 200 research centres and healthcare facilities. This boost for our research efforts to trial new therapies for Italian patients comes from a major three-year plan initiated by AstraZeneca, which will be able to draw on co-funding of 20 million euros from the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy’s Fund for Industrial and Biomedical Research and Development, disbursed via the Tech and Biomedical Foundation. The programme will be announced today at the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy (MIMIT) by Minister Adolfo Urso himself and senior executives from the UK-based giant; it stems from the successful bid in the public call for proposals to select industrial research and experimental development projects in the biomedical sector, promoted by the Tech and Biomedical Foundation. The injection of 66.2 million in fresh funding for our ‘Made in Italy’ clinical research is expected, in turn, to generate a total economic impact of around 180 million and lead to potential cost savings for the National Health Service – one need only consider access to innovative therapies for patients taking part in clinical trials – estimated at around 225 million euros.
“This partnership is a positive example of what can be achieved when institutions, the scientific community and industry work together synergistically. The agreement will expand patients’ access to innovative medicines and help strengthen Italia’s expertise and capabilities in the life sciences sector,” explains Ruud Dobber, Executive Vice President and President of AstraZeneca’s BioPharmaceuticals Business Unit. He emphasises that “Europe is gradually losing ground in terms of pharmaceutical investment, clinical research and access to innovation”, but for Dobber this is “a trend that can be reversed. By combining investment initiatives such as this with sustainable funding for innovation, faster access pathways and a more predictable regulatory environment, Italia can contribute to the revitalisation of the life sciences in Europe”.
More specifically, AstraZeneca and Alexion – the group’s division responsible for developing innovative medicines for rare diseases – will launch 71 new registration clinical trials over the three-year period, of which 52 will focus on AstraZeneca molecules and 19 on Alexion molecules, with a total investment of 48 million euros. A further €12 million will be allocated to carrying out 24 new observational and Real-World Evidence studies (essentially the collection of data on the effectiveness of treatments in clinical practice), €5 million will be invested in independent, pre-clinical and clinical research projects, and €1.2 million in digital health solutions. The studies will offer eligible patients the opportunity to participate in programmes to develop new therapies and will help to strengthen the role of Italian centres – from IRCCS to hospitals – within international clinical research networks.
AstraZeneca’s investment comes at a time of profound transformation in global biopharmaceutical research. Over the last thirty years, Europe’s share has declined, and in 2024 China made a historic leap, overtaking both Europe and the US in the launch of new medicines (only in 2020 did Europe hold the top spot). Just a few days ago, AstraZeneca, alongside eight other pharmaceutical giants, signed a letter to European governments and leaders to sound the alarm and attempt to reverse the decline in pharmaceutical research, pointing out that whilst Europe accounted for 43 per cent of clinical trials in 1990, this figure has now plummeted to 31 per cent – a share that continues to fall. Not to mention the impact of the ‘Most Favoured Nation’ pricing mechanism introduced by US President Trump, which is estimated to have reduced the supply of new medicines to Europe by 40 per cent. Against this backdrop, Italian clinical research – since the EU regulations that reshaped clinical trials came into force over four years ago – has lost ground in attracting investment even within Europe, with Spain overtaking us and relegating us to fourth place (behind Germany and France). This is why this investment now represents an important first sign of a reversal in the trend, reminding us that Italia possesses significant strengths – ranging from an extensive network of hospitals and research centres, to scientific expertise of the highest calibre, and the potential for public-private partnerships – on which it must now stake its future with determination.
