FEDERATION EUROPEENNE D'ASSOCIATIONS ET D'INDUSTRIES PHARMACEUTIQUES

Their core work

EFPIA is the main trade association representing the research-based pharmaceutical industry in Europe. It acts as the collective voice of major pharmaceutical companies in EU policy discussions around drug development, regulation, reimbursement, and market access. In H2020, EFPIA contributed industry perspectives to projects tackling medicines development pathways, patient engagement in R&D, big data for health outcomes, and vaccination strategies for ageing populations. Their value lies in bridging the pharmaceutical industry with academic researchers, regulators, and health technology assessment bodies.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

EFPIA's early H2020 involvement (2015-2017) centred on the mechanics of drug development — adaptive clinical trial design, regulatory approval pathways, HTA, and reimbursement models. By 2018-2019, their focus shifted toward public health impact: vaccination for ageing populations, disease burden modelling, and science communication. This reflects a broader pharmaceutical industry pivot from internal R&D process optimization toward demonstrating societal value and population-level health outcomes.

EFPIA is moving from internal industry process topics toward public health impact demonstration, particularly around vaccines and ageing — expect continued engagement in projects linking pharma innovation to measurable population health benefits.

How they like to work

EFPIA never coordinates projects — it joins as a participant or third party, which is typical for industry associations that contribute policy expertise and industry access rather than leading research. With 105 unique partners across 18 countries from just 5 projects, they operate in very large consortia (averaging 20+ partners per project). This makes them a network hub: partnering with EFPIA means accessing the broader European pharmaceutical industry ecosystem.

Despite only 5 projects, EFPIA has connected with 105 unique partners across 18 countries, reflecting their role in large IMI-type consortia that bring together pharma companies, universities, regulators, and patient organizations across Europe.

What sets them apart

EFPIA is not a research performer — it is THE representative body for Europe's research-based pharmaceutical industry. No other H2020 participant can offer the same direct channel to major pharma companies' collective positions on regulation, market access, and R&D policy. For consortium builders, including EFPIA signals serious industry engagement and provides a credible bridge between academic research and pharmaceutical commercialization.

Highlights from their portfolio

• VITAL
  Their most recent and longest-running project (2019-2024), addressing the highly relevant topic of vaccination in ageing populations with comprehensive disease burden and cost-benefit modelling.
• ADAPT-SMART
  Tackled the complex challenge of accelerating patient access to medicines through adaptive development pathways — directly relevant to EFPIA's core mission of improving the drug development ecosystem.
• PARADIGM
  Focused on meaningful patient engagement throughout the medicines development lifecycle, reflecting the industry's growing commitment to patient-centred R&D.