Ref. Ares(2015)4613425 - 27/10/2015
Ref. Ares(2016)6183596 - 28/10/2016
Meeting with Health Action International and Public Citizen
2 February 2015
Subject: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, Trans Pacific Partnership – impact on the
access of affordable medicine
Participants:
DG TRADE,
DG GROW,
,
,
,
,
DG SANTE
,
, Health Action International,
, Public Citizen
Summary
In this meeting, Health Action International and Public Citizen voiced concerns about the TTIP's
impact on the access to affordable medicine in the EU. US-based Public Citizen reported about
lessons learned from the TPP negotiations in this regard. The Commission representatives welcomed
the information and recalled the Commission position on the various points discussed.
1. Pricing and reimbursement of pharmaceuticals
Health Action International and Public Citizen voiced concerns about the TTIP's impact on the
pricing and reimbursement of pharmaceuticals in the EU. In particular, HAI is worried about the
inclusion of a transparency annex in the agreement. Public Citizen stressed that is the first priority of
US industry that is making active lobbying on this matter in D.C., notably by claiming that the EU does
not currently contribute in a fair way to innovation. It is also very high on USTR agenda for TTIP.
Based on previous trade agreement with Korea and Singapore, this annex could lead to a situation
where the ability of the European Member States to regulate prices would be limited, and the power
of multinational drug companies in price-setting would increase. As drug companies might ask for a
greater compensation of innovations, drug prices might increase in the EU. The reimbursement of
pharmaceuticals could be affected and patient co-payments might increase. HAI believes that
government pricing policies are important to keep drugs affordable and ensure access. The value of a
drug should not be determined by whether or not it is under patent. Rather, the therapeutic value of
a drug should determine its price.
The
Commission reminded current EU Transparency Directive (89/105/EEC) and repeated the
commitment to ensuring that neither the TTIP nor any other trade agreement will infringe upon the
competences of Member States as stipulated by Article 168 (TFEU). Moreover, EC explained in what
way the situation described for trade agreement with Korea was not applicable to the US as there is
no universal health coverage in the US and no price setting by the public authorities.
Public Citizen reported on experience with the
Transatlantic-Pacific Partnership negotiations. The
negotiations are almost completed and the agreement may be used by the US to impose similar
standards on the EU. Public Citizen believes that the bargaining power of multinational drug
companies is likely to increase with the TPP and sees a similar risk in the EU.
Following this meeting, Public Citizen will provide the Commission with papers on the TPP debate.
2. Release of data from clinical trials and exchange of confidential information
HAI raised concerns that the TTIP could undermine EMA's policy on publishing data from clinical
trials. In the view of HAI, clinical trial data should be shared to spread knowledge about the safety
and efficacy of drugs as well as to ensure innovation. But trade secret protection and commercial
confidentiality agreements could jeopardize access to data from clinical trials. Public Citizen
expressed the view that FDA policy on public access is too restrictive and that legal cases against FDA
often allow to gain access to more information.
The Commission clarified that a clear distinction has to be made between public access to
information on clinical trials and exchange of information amongst regulators. As far as clinical trial
data are concerned, the EMA policy and the EU Regulation will be implemented. There is no interest
from the EU to pursue discussions in the TTIP on this point. By contrast, the EU has interest to
facilitate exchange of information amongst regulators on confidential information and trade secrets
(e.g. inspection reports, safety data) that support regulatory cooperation. HAI was supportive of this
second objective. The Directive on Trade secret protection is still being discussed within the EU and
there is no intention from the Commission that this Directive will affect public access to clinical trial
information.
3. Intellectual property (IP)
HAI and Public Citizen voiced concerns that the TTIP could
reduce access to affordable
generics, if it
leads to a higher protection of IP than currently in place in the EU and in the US. Stricter IP rules
would imply longer monopoly periods, higher prices and more new drugs with only limited
therapeutic value.
EC stressed that IP rules will not change in the EU.
ISDS was only mentioned as there was no time to discuss it and HAI gave us a copy of their response
to the consultation.