Farmindustria: good manoeuvre but with EU policies 100 billion at risk

The Italian pharmaceutical industry is weathering the global turbulence. This is confirmed by export figures, which in the January-October 2025 period reached 58.8 billion euro with a growth of 33.7% compared to the same period last year, confirming its position as the leading sector in terms of growth: +3.4% of the manufacturing average. During a meeting with journalists, the president of Farmindustria, Marcello Cattani, spoke of an 'important and significant' year, emphasising, however, the need for innovative, flexible and fast choices. There has been a 'positive dialogue' with the Meloni government, which has resulted in an amendment to the Budget bill that envisages an increase in the pharmaceutical expenditure quota, and there is the objective of achieving 'a reduction in the payback to 13% by next year in the Testo Unico on pharmaceuticals, even if the industry CEOs are calling for a ceiling of 10'. But it is on European governance that a change of course is needed to avoid succumbing to the aggressive policies of the United States and China. 'The EU has entrenched itself in green ideologies,' Cattani stressed, 'and is unable to come up with the right ideas. The danger is that 100 billion in investments are put at risk, for Italy it is about 25 billion in 10 years'.

The main destination for pharmaceutical exports is the European Union with 47% of the total (+33% in the first 10 months of 2025), followed by the United States (23%, +61%), Switzerland (14%, +11%), the United Kingdom (3%, +44%) and China (2%, +28%). "The Italian pharmaceutical industry is not frightened by the global uncertainty," Cattani added, "but it must have the support and strategic alignment with the government to do the right things, with reforms that guarantee access to drugs and vaccines evenly across the territory and supporting innovation throughout the supply chain, with modern and flexible rules.

As we look forward to a 2025 in definite growth with an export value set to reach 70 billion, it seems premature to make estimates for 2026. 'We must support the most competitive sectors,' Cattani insisted. 'We expect growth in 2026, but these are only forecasts. The global trend indicates a growing demand: but the concern now is to assess the effects and potential risks of European policies that repel, rather than attract, investment'.

Also worrying for the pharmaceutical companies is the waste water directive, "on which the Commission has not introduced any corrective measures," Cattani recalled. And this 11 billion burden on the European industry is a further obstacle to competitiveness.