The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 278 No 7444 p334
24 March 2007

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European Medicines Agency works faster

Initial assessment times at the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) are coming down despite year-on-year increases in the agency's workload.

The 2006 EMEA annual report records that the agency received 77 applications for marketing authorisations for new human medicines — 37 more than in 2005 — and gave positive opinions for 51. The agency managed to cut its initial assessment time despite this increased workload.

EMEA executive director Thomas Lönngren said: “I am pleased by our performance in 2006, which was one of the busiest years ever, and the first full year in which we operated under the terms of the revised pharmaceutical legislation.

“The fact that we managed record numbers of applications while speeding up assessment times demonstrates that we have successfully adapted to the new legal framework.”