Major pharmaceutical companies are delaying the launch of new medicines in some European countries to avoid triggering lower reference prices that could affect how much they can charge in the United States, according to an April 2 report. Insmed has postponed the introduction of its inflammatory lung disease drug Brinsupri, despite receiving clearance for use in Europe.
This development is significant as it may limit access to important new treatments for patients in Europe while maintaining high prices for Americans. Experts anticipate that more companies will follow this strategy, which could impact patient care on both continents.
Stefan Oelrich, a Bayer executive and president of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations, said: “We’re seeing first signs of delayed introductions into Europe.” This comment was made during an interview with Reuters about changing industry strategies.
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) also launched a campaign urging Gilead to expand production and access to its newly approved HIV prevention medication Sunlenca. Tom Ellman, director of MSF’s Southern Africa Medical Unit, said: “Gilead must decide whether it prioritizes protecting people or protecting control and profit. This is a chilling echo of the policies we saw in the 1990s when antiretrovirals were provided to those in the Global North while the rest of the world was denied access and many lives were lost to HIV/AIDS.”
In response, Gilead stated that it is “committed to ensuring broad, sustainable access to lenacapavir for HIV prevention in high‑incidence, resource‑limited countries.” The company noted ongoing collaborations with organizations such as the Global Fund and PEPFAR and indicated that generic manufacturers have been granted early rights to produce copies.
The broader implications suggest continued debate over balancing innovation costs with global patient access. As more pharmaceutical firms consider withholding products from certain markets due to pricing concerns, questions remain about how best to ensure critical medicines reach those who need them most.
