this post was submitted on 29 Dec 2025
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https://archive.is/c3U7L

For example, in the production of active ingredients, Europe's market share by value has slumped. While it exceeded 80% at the end of the 1990s, it had fallen to 48% by 2014. "Today, it's closer to 30%, and it's likely to drop further," noted Vincent Touraille, president of SICOS, France's union of players in the organic chemistry and biochemistry industries. Meanwhile, China and India have soared to reach respective market shares of 35% and 20%.

A study conducted by German generic drug industry association Pro Generika found that at least three commonly used antibiotics – doxycycline, clarithromycin and cefaclor – now have only one or two manufacturers left in Europe. More broadly, 80% of the active ingredients in medicines consumed on the continent now come from India or China.

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[–] trollercoaster@sh.itjust.works 2 points 45 minutes ago

If it's a matter of sovereignty, there is a simple solution: Nationalise it.

[–] ranzispa@mander.xyz 5 points 1 hour ago

Chief among their demands is an increase in medicine prices, arguing that treatments are not adequately valued in Europe.

Up until a few months ago it was record profits, top 10 stock valuation and they didn't know what to throw the money at. Did they already burn all that?

Capitalism doesn't favor any particular country, just the lowest bidder.

[–] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 3 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago)

I don't really understand how the title relates to the article, which mostly points out that European drug manufacturers can't sell so much stuff in the USA anymore, which is apparently a huge market.

So what? Markets shift, markets change, yadda yadda.

I wish news outlets would use equally dramatic titles when people's pay can't keep up with cost of living.

PS: I keep confusing Le Monde and Le Monde Diplomatique. Damn.

[–] Wizard_Pope@lemmy.world 12 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

Is this mainly due to downsizing and moving production or just India and China catching up with their own production?

[–] cazssiew@lemmy.world 9 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

This is a big subject in France right now (le monde is a French newspaper) because a very common French drug brand was recently sold to American investors: https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2024/10/14/sale-of-french-painkiller-to-american-firm-sparks-uproar_6729399_7.html

[–] A_norny_mousse@feddit.org 2 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

Yet the article above leads with a picture of a brand new Sanofi factory.

Not sure I want to contradict you; frankly the discrepancy between this article's title and content confuses me.

[–] cazssiew@lemmy.world 1 points 2 minutes ago

I don't have an opinion either way, I'm just relaying what's in the media. I would say that a single factory doesn't say much of anything about larger trends in the industry though.

[–] NachBarcelona@piefed.social 3 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

There's incredibly little potential to make this idiotic panic shit title more melodramatic.

That's 9 rubles on your account though.

[–] plyth@feddit.org 1 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

That’s 9 rubles on your account though.

https://feddit.org/post/20203593 from Hotznplotzn.

Hybrid threats force Poland to tighten medicine supply controls as the country aims to wean itself off Asia for essential drugs

[–] NachBarcelona@piefed.social 1 points 3 hours ago (1 children)
[–] plyth@feddit.org 6 points 2 hours ago

What's the threat vector? Destroy Europe by highlighting its problems? The danger comes from ignoring the dependency. You are right, the title is melodramatic. But doesn't the risk still exist? We are preparing for a war that may start from 2027 onwards. Even if India is on our side, how do we get the ingredients safely?