EU Pharma Leaders Push European Nasdaq, Innovation Reforms to Boost Biotech

Stefan Oelrich, president of Bayer’s pharmaceutical division and head of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), has advocated for the creation of a European equivalent to the Nasdaq stock exchange to enhance capital market access for biotech companies and stimulate innovation across Europe. He highlighted that Europe's fragmented regulatory environment, inconsistent drug pricing, and limited venture capital availability force many biotech innovations to relocate to the U.S., where funding and commercialization opportunities are more accessible. This proposal aligns with the EU’s Life Sciences Strategy, which recognizes the widening gap in venture capital investment and the heavy reliance on bank loans as key challenges for Europe’s biotech sector. Concurrently, Belgian biotech stakeholders have urged the European Commission to implement the Biotech Act with radical simplification, stronger financial instruments, and smarter regulation to combat regulatory delays, fragmented markets, and lack of capital. They emphasize the need for streamlined clinical trial regulations, harmonized approval procedures, and centralized EU oversight to reduce administrative burdens and improve patient access to innovative therapies. Together, these calls reflect a broader push within Europe to reform capital markets and regulatory frameworks to retain biotech innovation and remain competitive globally.