New pharma firm set up to aid integration

A new pan-European pharmaceuticals company called Consilient Health has been launched in Brussels to help pharmaceutical players from those eastern and southern European countries seeking membership of the European Union to integrate with its market and regulatory structures.

The group recently staged a meeting involving more than 20 pharmaceutical companies and industry associations from these countries as well as representative from the European Commission and the European Medicines Evaluation Agency.

A spokesman told Manufacturing Chemist that the company, which has been formed by unnamed investors, would be advising eastern European pharmaceutical groups on how to enter the EU market, as well as handling marketing authorisations.

Douglas Andrews, ceo of Consilient Health, said: 'The potential for these companies as a consequence of EU enlargement is huge - but the challenges and obstacles before them are just as significant.' He added that difficulties included having to abide by EU-standard manufacturing practices and also proving that they have done so.