With China responsible for most of the EU’s pharma ingredients, supplies are at risk.
At this moment, the novel coronavirus outbreak isn’t causing problems for Europe’s medicines supply. But that’s almost certain to change, industry experts warn — and at the worst possible time.
Two weeks after the COVID-2019 spread was declared a public health emergency by the World Health Organization, it shows no signs of abating. As of February 13, the WHO said there were almost 47,000 lab-confirmed cases of the virus, most of them in China, which has quarantined tens of millions to contain the spread.See also outlets as disparate as The American Prospect:
“Were this epidemic to develop into a global pandemic, most countries will face shortages of essential medicines at a time where they would need them the most,” warned the European Fine Chemicals Group, which represents manufacturers of active ingredients in medicines.
While Europe is one of the world’s top manufacturers of drugs, the raw ingredients often come from China or India. This dependence on Asia was already a source of alarm at the EU’s highest political levels, with shortages and impurities prompting calls for action in both Brussels and national capitals.
Now the coronavirus, which is shutting down factories in China and preventing authorities from making sure plants are up to snuff, is on track to exacerbate existing shortages.
“We’re taking a balanced view of any risk” — Gary Slack, executive at BSI“We have seen there might be a possibility [of the] risk of shortages of supplies due to the coronavirus,” said German Health Minister Jens Spahn at an emergency meeting with his EU counterparts in Brussels Thursday. “We know many active ingredients are made in China, particularly in Hubei province.”
Calm before the storm?
Industry officials and regulators say that it's so far, so good. The European Medicines Agency hasn’t received any reports of supply disruptions, a spokesperson said, echoing reports from trade associations for both innovative medicines manufacturers and those who make cheaper, generic versions....MORE
The Coronavirus Outbreak is an Economic Red Flag
The Council on Foreign Relations:
U.S. Dependence on Pharmaceutical Products From China
And the United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission
GROWING U.S. RELIANCE ON CHINA’S BIOTECH AND PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS
