| Along with the scientific uncertainty
inherent in developing new drugs,
companies seeking approval throughout
the world for their products must deal
with an additional worry: navigating the
diversity of global regulatory systems.
In theory, 13th May 2008 should have
been an important date for pharmaceutical
companies marketing medicinal products
on both sides of the Atlantic. However, in
practice, the situation of these companies
might not greatly improve. 13th May 2008
is the date on which US Cabinet members
and European Commissioners met for
a second session of the Transatlantic
Economic Council (TEC) and decided to
intensify the cooperation between the US
and the EU in the pharmaceutical area.
The TEC was created by European
Commission President José Manuel
Barroso, German Chancellor Angela
Merkel and US President George W Bush
to foster transatlantic economic integration
at the EU/US Summit in Washington in
April 2007. This welcome initiative was
followed by a first meeting in Washington
on 9th November 2007. |
