#read

Innovation backlog for pharmaceuticals

Germany is losing out on new drugs, and the gap is growing noticeably. A recent analysis by Charles River Associates (CRA) shows that between 2016 and 2025, around 33 per cent of drugs approved in the USA did not receive marketing authorisation in Germany. A total of 175 preparations are missing. These include 51 therapies with particularly high medical potential that have undergone accelerated testing in the USA. For patients, this often means later access or no access at all to treatments that have long been available elsewhere.

16/04/2026

It is particularly significant that the missing preparations include many with high medical benefits, including many with accelerated approval status. The findings are not surprising in one respect. The backlog is due less to rejections than to strategic decisions by companies. Many innovations are not even submitted for authorisation in Europe. As a result, the global dynamic is shifting further in favour of the USA, while China is also gaining in importance. Europe is becoming less attractive as an early market entry location. For Germany, this development is becoming a location issue. Companies are not only evaluating regulatory processes, but above all the economic framework conditions. Predictable reimbursement and reliable prospects determine whether innovations are available early or whether other markets are favoured. If this uncertainty increases, the trend threatens to intensify, with direct consequences for healthcare provision and the innovative strength of Germany as a healthcare location.

Press release of the "Verband Forschender Arzneimittelhersteller e.V." from 16.04.2026

The above texts, or parts thereof, were automatically translated from the original language text using a translation system (DeepL API).
Despite careful machine processing, translation errors cannot be ruled out.

Click here to access the original content