(Finance) – The FAB13that is, and 13 Pharmaceutical companies with Italian capital adhering to Farmindustriaconfirm a social and strategic role for the Italian economy: 12.5 billion in turnover, 1.2 billion in investments and 44,500 employees. This is what emerged at the conference “The social and strategic role of the Italian pharmaceutical industry. Scientific research, innovation, development and employment ”, held at the Temple of Hadrian in Rome.
These are private companies, mostly family-run, located between the North and the Cemntro Italy: Abiogen Pharma (Pisa); Alfasigma (Bologna); Angelini Pharma (Ancona); Chiesi Farmaceutici (Parma); Dompé Farmaceutici (Milan); IBN Savio (Pomezia RM); Italfarmaco (Milan); Kedrion (Lucca); Menarini (Florence); Molteni (Florence); Mediolanum Farmaceutici (Milan); Recordati (Milan); Zambon (Milan).
The FAB13s cover a key role in the Italian economyhaving offices and production plants in Italy, realizing 1.2 billion in investments yearly in Italy, which bring the total for the decade 2010-2020 to 8.5 billion euros, paying the taxes in Italy although 70% of sales are foreign and employing thousands of people. In 2020 overall employment was over 44,500 units, which grew globally by almost 1,000 units (+ 2.2%) despite the crisis. In terms of employment, the overall impact on the economic system is over 60 thousand employees.
The pharmaceutical sector is therefore a strategic asset for the Italian economy and the Draghi government has included among its objectives the increase of investments in the sector, but a series of subsequent measures they turned out contradictory and risk penalizing the national pharmaceutical industry, such as the reduction of Patent Boxthe weakening of patentsthe revision of the handbook with the criterion of therapeutic superimposition and the alteration of distribution channels regional to the detriment of national companies. Add to this now the impossibility of recovering costs increasing of raw materials and energy as drug prices are regulated and imposed.
“The pharmaceutical sector – he comments Giancarlo Giorgetti, Minister of Economic Development – contributes to the growth of Italy, giving our country a leading role at European level. A success made possible also by the 13 medium-large pharmaceutical companies with Italian capital, the FAB13, members of Farmindustria. The Draghi Government has included among its objectives the increase of investments in the biomedical pharmaceutical sector, for the creation of national poles for the development of new drugs. Furthermore, the Ministry of Economic Development has created the ‘Enea Tech and Biomedical’ Foundation, to favor the production capacity and investments of the technology transfer fund “.
Second Andrea Costa, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health “Politics must acknowledge that there are situations that absolutely must be improved. I thank a sector that has invested in research and health even in the absence of the support of the institutions. We have a great challenge ahead of us that we will only be able to grasp by leaving the ideological approach which sees an opposition between public and private. I am against, in this sense, the liberalization of the patent because it would mean no longer guaranteeing research “.
“In the last year the measures of the Ministry of Economic Development – he declared Federico Freni, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy and Finance – have demonstrated a strategic vision that needs to be cultivated. We have a responsibility to make a stable and rational regulatory framework available to this industrial sector. If we think of not fueling competition in research, the sector will not be able to grow. The teaching of the pandemic was to value research. Regulatory uncertainty, in this sense, is a problem that a civilized country cannot accept “.
“When it comes to pharmaceutical companies – he says Lucia Aleotti, shareholder and member of the Menarini Board – not much attention is paid to industrial issues and this represents a strategic error. In this sense, it is essential to have a national production in Italy. Who would have thought two years ago that we would have found a challenge like that of the pandemic in which the same European countries have blocked the export of essential goods. Competition law risks damaging the protection of industrial patents, with enormous damage for the sector. We want to stay in Italy, but we need support to support the increased costs we are incurring “.
“The pandemic and the current conflict situation – he explains Alberto Chiesi, President of Chiesi Farmaceutici SpA – they are having important effects on the industrial system. Implementing the PNRR represents a fundamental challenge to reduce social gaps and foster innovation. In this context, the desire expressed by President Draghi to create national poles for the research and development of new drugs, through investments in the pharmaceutical sector in support of the production chain, is commendable. However, there are some contradicting political actions. We therefore ask the institutions to ensure the reciprocity of discussions and the gradualness of regulatory measures, in order to implement a constructive dialogue for the good of the country system “.
“There is no strategic vision in our country” he declares Sergio Dompé. “We are making measures incomplete by dismantling choices that were made many years ago. We must try to look to the future. In this sense, we need a frank and clear relationship with the government”.
“We need coordination between policies and also basic coherence,” he comments Giovanni Tria, President of the Enea Tech and Biomedical Foundation. “During the pandemic, a budget shift of 150 billion euros was made, but the pharmaceutical sector has seen only a few tens of millions. In this respect, there is no comprehensive approach. Supporting the pharmaceutical industry means safeguarding national security. , thus attracting investments in all sectors “.
“We need to make a new reasoning” he explains Andrea Mandelli, Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies and FOFI President. “The pandemic has brought a greater awareness of the role of research and investment in healthcare. Pharmaceutical companies have been perceived more strongly by citizens. It is therefore essential to dismiss the past season based on cuts in healthcare and enhance the extraordinary” know how of pharmaceutical companies “.
The press office and the organization of the event were handled by Ital Communications.