How much does the industry invest in clinical research in Spain? In 2023, it was over €830 million.
During the SEDISA Foundation Debates, various specialists shared their views on the present and future of healthcare research, as well as the role of the pharmaceutical industry and the digitalization of healthcare.
Concha Serrano, Trustee of Pfizer, stated during the event: “According to the latest research data, in 2023, €834 million were invested in clinical research in Spain by the industry. Fifty-two percent corresponds to studies in phases one and two, the most initial and complex phases.”
In the recent debate, Claudia Fernández Piciochi, Head of Government Affairs and Health Policy at Johnson & Johnson MedTech Spain, highlighted that healthcare technology is characterized by a “constant flow of innovations driven by a high level of research and development. Current regulations place greater importance on clinical data supporting the safety and functionality of products, covering both pre-market procedures and post-market surveillance.”
Recognizing the growing importance of research impact on patients, Concha Serrano noted: “Pharmacoeconomics studies have begun to take into account patient well-being, following quality-of-life parameters.”
Healthcare technology as a pioneer
Both speakers emphasized that healthcare technology is a pioneering field, as “from the outset, technology must demonstrate that it adds value and meets the needs of patients, professionals, and the healthcare system. It is essential to measure key indicators that evaluate goal achievement and the suitability of outcome-based payments.”
In this context, real-world data “provides efficient information that enhances the understanding of service quality and the evaluation of the safety, efficacy, and value of medical technology.”
Moreover, this data can “accelerate the process of generating practical evidence, making it more sustainable and improving economic information for health technology assessment and coverage decisions.”
Serrano also stressed that from the pharmaceutical industry’s perspective: “We face the challenge of not having enough data for evaluation. I hope technological advances will enable the digitalization of medical records and allow us to see in real-world settings how medications are performing.”
A research powerhouse
In conclusion, Concha Serrano emphasized: “The administration aims to invest in medications and healthcare technology. Spain is a research powerhouse and must continue to be one. The level of excellence, efficiency, and speed in conducting clinical studies must remain high.”
In the same vein, Claudia Fernández concluded the event by highlighting that: “Scientific evidence is essential. Clinical trials evaluate efficacy and safety, providing fundamental data for clinical practice. Economic evidence informs us about efficiency. Real-world evidence allows us to understand how and for whom it works in routine practice, enabling more informed and effective decisions that improve patient outcomes and optimize healthcare.”
Real-world data and evidence are of utmost importance as they evaluate the real impact on patients. To achieve this, it is necessary to implement technologies that facilitate data collection.
The impact of the innovative pharmaceutical industry in europe
These clinical research figures for Spain are complemented by data from a PwC report for the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA): €46.2 billion invested in R&D and the generation of over 2.3 million jobs.
The report highlights that the pharmaceutical industry contributes €311 billion in economic value to the EU and is three times more productive than the European economy as a whole. Of this contribution, more than €24 billion comes from the pharmaceutical industry in Spain, which also generates over 265,000 jobs, making it the fourth-largest contributor among the EU-27.
However, the report warns that although pharmaceutical R&D in Europe has grown by an average of 4.4% per year since 2010, the investments made by the US and China in this field have been much greater, with growth rates of 5.5% and 20.7%, respectively, during the same period.