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Novartis and the European Union

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Europe is an important hub for Novartis, bringing together research and development, clinical trials, advanced manufacturing, healthcare policy and patient access. Across the European Union (EU) and beyond, we work to reimagine medicine and support efforts to help scientific innovation reach patients.

From Brussels to Basel, the Novartis Public Affairs team engages independently with EU institutions, Member States, trade associations, patient communities and healthcare stakeholders. We contribute evidence, expertise and policy perspectives to support innovation, strengthen health systems and enable timely and equitable access to medicines across Europe.

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Why Europe matters to Novartis

Europe has a strong tradition of scientific excellence in the life sciences. From fundamental research to breakthrough treatments, medical innovation has improved patient outcomes, strengthened healthcare systems, and contributed to Europe’s economy through high-skilled jobs, research investment and advanced manufacturing.

Learn more

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Novartis in the EU at a glance

Novartis has a strong footprint in Europe, reflected in the people we employ, the research we conduct, the sites we operate and the patients participating in our clinical trials.

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More than 31,000 employees

This reflects Novartis’ broad presence in the region across research, development, manufacturing, commercial operations and support functions.

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43.7 million patients treated

Estimated number of patients reached with Novartis medicines.

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€6.1bn invested in R&D

Novartis investment in research and development in the EU and Switzerland during the relevant reporting period.

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210 clinical trials

More than 25,000 patients participate in Novartis-sponsored clinical research across 25 EU countries and Switzerland.

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76 sites including 20 manufacturing sites

These sites include research, development, manufacturing and commercial locations.

*Data as of January 2026.

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Our EU legislative priorities

The policy decisions taken today will influence whether Europe continues to take a leading role in medical innovation, research and clinical trials, and advanced manufacturing.

Guided by our purpose to reimagine medicine, Novartis engages constructively on EU legislative files that affect the full innovation lifecycle. Recently, these have included the Biotech Act, the Critical Medicines Act, and the General Pharmaceutical Legislation.

Together, these frameworks play an important role in translating scientific progress into timely patient access, resilient healthcare systems, and sustainable long-term value for Europe.

Biotech Act

Critical Medicines Act

General Pharmaceutical Legislation

Transparent political engagement

Our political engagements are guided by principles of integrity, transparency and evidence-based dialogue. We contribute scientific and policy expertise to help shape a legislative and regulatory environment that supports life sciences innovation, strengthens healthcare systems and expands patient access to medicines while delivering sustainable value for society.

Novartis follows principles for responsible lobbying, and discloses our annual lobbying expenditure in relevant reporting materials including the ESG Data Summary 2025 (PDF 0.3 MB).

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Report on Nonfinancial Matters 2025

The Report on Nonfinancial Matters 2025 provides an overview of our company’s material social impact and sustainability matters, addressing topics such as climate change, access to medicine, and business conduct. It also includes the Human Rights Statement covering modern slavery, decent work, forced labor and child labor. The report describes policies and actions that guide our activities globally, including within the European Union.

Download the report (PDF 1.0 MB)

Alliance for Regenerative Medicine

The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine is a global advocacy organization advancing engineered cell and genetic therapies to benefit patients and strengthen healthcare systems.

BusinessEurope

Representing national business federations across Europe BusinessEurope promotes growth and competitiveness through engagement with EU institutions and social partners.

EFPIA

The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations promotes a policy environment that enables members to innovate and deliver new therapies, while supporting economic growth.

Eucope

The European Confederation of Pharmaceutical Entrepreneurs represents innovative pharmaceutical and biotech companies, promoting policies that enable innovation and better patient outcomes.

EuropaBio

The European Association for Bioindustries represents the biotech industry across Europe, engaging with EU institutions to shape legislation and promote innovation in healthcare and industrial biotechnology.

NMEU

Nuclear Medicine Europe is the voice of Europe’s nuclear medicine industry, working with EU institutions to shape regulation, strengthen supply, and enable patient access to innovative radiopharmaceuticals.

Novartis develops and communicates its public policy positions independently; membership of trade associations do not imply endorsement of every position taken by an association.

Meet our Public Affairs team

Meet the people behind Novartis’ EU engagement. The Novartis Public Affairs team works with stakeholders across Europe and contributes evidence and perspectives to policy discussions affecting innovation, health systems and patient access. The team engages with EU institutions, policy makers, trade associations and healthcare stakeholders on policy topics that affect innovation, access to medicines, clinical trials, biotechnology, pharmaceutical legislation and supply resilience.

Curious to learn more?
Contact our EU Public Affairs team via email or follow our Novartis Europe LinkedIn page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Novartis contributes to the European Union through research and development, clinical trials, manufacturing, health policy engagement and patient access initiatives. The company works with EU institutions, Member States and healthcare stakeholders to support policies that enable innovation, strengthen health systems and help medicines reach patients timely and equitably.

Europe is important for Novartis because it is a major hub for research, development, clinical trials, manufacturing and healthcare policy. The region combines scientific excellence, strong health systems and advanced industrial capabilities, making it key to the development and delivery of innovative medicines.

A study commissioned by EFPIA and conducted by the WifOR Institute reports that each €1 invested in new medicines was associated with an estimated €5.67 in socioeconomic value in Europe. For 2014–2022, the study also estimated an association between the use of new medicines and 1.83 million fewer years of life lost before age 85, as well as 20.9 million hospital days avoided across 29 European countries.

Read more: WifOR

The EU General Pharmaceutical Legislation is the main legal framework governing how medicines are developed, authorized and made available in the European Union. Its reform could influence patient access, innovation incentives, clinical research, medicine supply and Europe’s competitiveness as a life sciences region.

The Biotech Act matters because biotechnology is central to the future of medicine, including advanced therapies and precision treatments. A strong EU Biotech Act can help Europe attract investment, support clinical research, strengthen competitiveness and improve patient access to next-generation treatments.

The Critical Medicines Act is an EU policy initiative focused on improving the resilience of medicine supply and reducing shortages. It aims to address supply-chain vulnerabilities and improve coordination across Member States while ensuring that patients can continue to access the medicines they need.

Novartis seek to support access to medicines in Europe by working with healthcare systems, policymakers, patient communities and other stakeholders on timely, equitable and sustainable access to innovative treatments. Access timelines are influenced by regulatory approval, health technology assessment, national pricing and reimbursement processes, supply resilience and healthcare-system readiness. Novartis supports transparent and evidence-based policies intended to reduce avoidable delays and inequalities, while maintaining incentives for continued research and development.

Novartis engages with EU policymakers through transparent, evidence-based and constructive dialogue. The Novartis EU Public Affairs team works with EU institutions, Member States, trade associations and healthcare stakeholders on policy areas including pharmaceutical legislation, biotechnology, access to medicine, clinical trials, and supply.

The Novartis EU Public Affairs team is based in Brussels, Belgium, with close connections to Novartis colleagues in Basel and across Europe. The team engages with European institutions and stakeholders on policy topics that affect innovation, access to medicines and healthcare systems.

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Therapeutic areas

Discover our medicines

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Research and development

Explore our science

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Learn about our impact

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Join our team

Novartis is a global company and its policies and programs, including those described in the Novartis in Society Integrated Report, may differ depending on the jurisdiction in which it operates. Novartis is committed to complying with the law in the countries and jurisdictions in which it conducts business.