World EPA Congress 2026: EU pharmaceutical policy in focus - Herbert Altmann and Alexander Natz

Europe’s ambition to strengthen pharmaceutical competitiveness is clear — but execution will matter. In this conversation, Herbert Altmann, Vice President, Market Access & Healthcare Consulting, Europe at Cencora, and Alexander Natz, Secretary General at EUCOPE, unpack three major policy files shaping the industry: the General Pharmaceutical Legislation, the Critical Medicines Act, and the Biotech Act. They explore how changes to incentives, launch obligations, and supply resilience could influence investment decisions — and why speed, clarity, and predictability will be critical if Europe wants to remain attractive for innovation. 00:00 Introduction 00:28 General Pharmaceutical Legislation (GPL): Scope and current status 02:05 How the geopolitical context is impacting clinical trials 03:35 Market access timelines: Current situation and expectations 08:05 Critical Medicine Act: Origins and current direction 11:40 Biotech Act: Implications for competitiveness and market access 14:55 Key considerations for Europe moving forward 17:16 Closing thoughts