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European Study on Antibiotic Prices and Availability

In a significant development during the World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week, a recent study has unveiled alarming trends in the pharmaceutical sector, highlighting both decreasing prices and increasing shortages of critical antibiotics. The research, commissioned by Viatris Inc. and Medicines for Europe, sheds light on the urgent need for systemic reforms in national pricing and procurement policies.

Key Findings of the Study

The report conducted by New Angle, a respected consulting and research agency, delivers some startling statistics:

• - From 2020 to 2024, the average price of the ten most important off-patent antibiotics fell by 10.4%, despite rising manufacturing costs.
• - During the same period, production costs surged, with a 31.6% rise in manufacturing expenses, 25.7% increase in labor costs, and dramatic spikes in energy prices—up 88% for gas and 62% for electricity.
• - Notably, the price of amoxicillin dropped by 18.9%, despite it being one of the most affected antibiotics by shortages.
• - A staggering total of 240 antibiotics were recalled from the market, with 385 reported instances of shortages across 16 European countries, between June 23 and July 7, 2025, illustrating gaps in the supply chain.

These findings underscore a critical paradox: while prices are decreasing, the actual costs of producing these vital medications are dramatically escalating, threatening their availability in the long term. As highlighted by several leaders in the pharmaceutical industry, without urgent reforms, patients across Europe may face significant risks in accessing essential treatments, driving public health concerns and potentially accelerating antimicrobial resistance.

Need for Systematic Reforms

The ongoing crisis emphasizes the demand for revamping pricing and procurement strategies across Europe. Tytting forward, Viatris and Medicines for Europe propose several reforms to enhance the economic sustainability and availability of off-patent medicines:

• - Inflation and Production Cost Indexing: Updating the pricing of antibiotics according to inflation and production costs will help keep them economically viable for manufacturers and available for patients.
• - Minimum Pricing Policies: Short-term cost-saving measures could lead to limited availability over time; therefore, establishing minimum price thresholds can ensure favorable market conditions for maintaining antibiotic supply.
• - Tiered Pricing Models: Pricing adjustments based on market competition will consider the number of suppliers and demand, ultimately fostering healthy competition.
• - Reform of Public Procurement Policies: Contrary to focus purely on cost, public tenders should reward reliability and environmental standards, promoting more winners in procurement processes.

Voices from the Healthcare Sector

Dr. Margarida Bajancová, a leading research fellow at New Angle, articulates the significance of the findings: _“Off-patent antibiotics are a cornerstone of healthcare—critical for treating infections and surgical prophylaxis. The drop in prices, driven by existing procurement policies, combined with rising production costs, jeopardizes their viability and availability. Without reforms, European patients risk losing access to crucial treatments.”_

Artur Cwiok, director of Viatris Europe, echoed this sentiment: _“Ensuring patient access to medicines necessitates a robust and sustainable market policy that reflects the therapeutic value of off-patent drugs, supporting accessibility and supply security for all European patients.”_
Adrian van den Hoven, CEO of Medicines for Europe, added: _“Antibiotics are foundational for public health. The conclusions from this report should serve as a wake-up call about the value we place on these medications in society. Policymakers need to rethink price policy, which clearly threatens supply security.”_

Conclusion

These crucial findings arrive as institutions globally recognize AMR Awareness Week, reinforcing the need for collective action amid mounting healthcare challenges. As Viatris and Medicines for Europe call upon policymakers and healthcare leaders to address these concerns with urgency, it’s evident that maintaining access to essential antibiotics requires not only the understanding of economic principles but also a commitment to reform. Such reform is vital to ensuring the availability of antibiotics to safeguard public health and manage the rising tide of antimicrobial resistance.

For further insights, the full study is accessible on the official websites of Viatris and Medicines for Europe.