Lessons From Europe’s Loss of Biopharma Leadership, and Its Attempts to Recover

Europe once led the world in biopharmaceutical innovation, but that leadership gradually eroded as policymakers adopted price controls and other policies that weakened incentives for research, development, and investment. Over time, global leadership shifted to the United States, which cultivated a more supportive ecosystem for life sciences innovation.

Today, as similar debates emerge in Washington over drug pricing, intellectual property, tariffs, and public investment in biomedical research, policymakers face growing questions about whether the United States can preserve the conditions that made it the world’s leader in developing new medicines.

Please join ITIF for an expert panel discussion on what Europe’s experience reveals about the risks of undermining biopharmaceutical innovation, how policy choices shape R&D investment and competitiveness, and what steps U.S. policymakers should take to sustain American leadership in life sciences.

Questions for the speakers? Ask on Slido.