The Spanish Association of Laboratories for Orphan and Ultra-Orphan Drugs (AELMHU) participated this Wednesday in the founding meeting of the Pharmaceutical Industry Alliance, chaired by Health Minister Mónica García and Secretary of State for Health Javier Padilla.
The Alliance thus serves as a forum for dialogue and cooperation among the Spanish government (the Office of the Prime Minister, and the Ministries of Health, Finance, Economy, Industry and Tourism, and Science, Innovation, and Universities); the autonomous communities; pharmaceutical industry associations (AELMHU, Farmaindustria, AESEG, BioSim, AFAQUIM, ASEBIO, and ANEFP); patient associations such as the Spanish Federation of Rare Diseases (FEDER), the Platform of Patient Organizations (POP), and the Spanish Patients’ Forum (FEP); representatives of healthcare professionals, such as the Federation of Spanish Scientific and Medical Associations (FACME); scientific societies, such as the Spanish Society of Hospital Pharmacy (SEFH); and representatives of civil society, such as Salud por Derecho or The Medicines Patent Pool.
This initiative, which aims to strengthen collaboration among all stakeholders involved in pharmaceutical policy in Spain, stems from the Pharmaceutical Industry Strategy 2024–2028, of which AELMHU has been a part since its creation in 2024, and in which we actively collaborate through the various working groups and committees that have been established.
Our Association is now joining the Alliance with the aim of continuing to highlight the perspective of pharmaceutical companies specializing in orphan and ultra-orphan drugs, as well as other treatments for rare diseases, given that both rare diseases and advanced therapies are recognized as strategic areas in the Strategy.
At AELMHU, we applaud the goals of this Alliance, which focus, among other things, on strengthening strategic autonomy, promoting biomedical innovation, and ensuring equitable access to medicines throughout Spain.
We are confident that this forum will facilitate the exchange of knowledge and the identification of common priorities among all stakeholders in the sector, contributing to the development of a more equitable and innovative healthcare model in which the needs of patients with rare diseases and the specific characteristics of orphan drugs are at the heart of decision-making.
