The three major EU institutions are all calling for urgent action to tackle antimicrobial resistance, with the emphasis very much on incentives for the development of novel medicines and a reduction in overall consumption of antibiotics.

Recent incidents of illness and death caused by contaminated cough syrups show that there is a need to review the “member state mechanism” that is intended to coordinate efforts to tackle poor quality medical products, the World Health Organization says.

A workshop led by the European Medicines Agency and the US Food and Drug Administration sought to reach alignment on adapting COVID-19 vaccines to emerging virus variants.

Having been passed by the European Parliament and now the Council of the EU, new legislation will clear up some of the issues raised by Brexit relating to trade in medicines between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

The publication of two major reports has led the UK government to announce a £650m “Life Sci for Growth” package to bolster the life sciences sector.

The UK regulator, the MHRA, says that while it will recognize drug approvals granted in the EU and a selection of other countries, it will remain a “sovereign regulator” with the ability to reject applications if they don’t meet its standards.