Deadly prices

Confidential agreements and medicines out of reach for millions. This investigation goes inside Europe’s secret drug pricing system, revealing a world of opaque deals and unequal access.

June 2024

What is the price of a life? When it comes to medicines, that varies a lot globally. It varies in Europe, too.

“Where you live should not determine whether you live or die,” said EU health commissioner Stella Kyriakides last year. However, millions of Europeans lack access to medicines that save or prolong lives in other European countries. The investigation reveals that in six EU countries one in four of 32 important medicines analysed is missing.

Why is that? Not least because they are priced out of reach. These are two of the findings in our new investigation into pricing and access to medicines in Europe.
 
Some news is great: the pharmaceutical pipeline is bursting with new therapies that seem like gamechangers. They give new hope to cancer patients who were losing it. Some offer substantially better quality of life to children born with rare and painful diseases.
 
But the promises come with a price that make such drugs unattainable for many. Public pharmaceutical budgets, too, are buckling under the double weight of rising expectations from desperate patients and galloping prices that pharmaceutical producers demand for their innovations.
The prices are not the same, however. The pharmaceutical industry says they would like countries to pay according to their means, so that the rich would pay more than the not so rich. Reality seems different: our scrutiny of the breakthrough drugs of one pharmaceutical producer indicates that the company charges much more in some low-income countries than in other, well-to-do economies.  
 
But only industry has all the facts. For the past 15 years, a blanket of secrecy has been laid over the vast European pharmaceutical market. Companies approach countries separately to offer new drugs with a discount, provided they never tell any other country what that rebate is.

From our eight-months’ investigation we have found this, and much more, about a system that determines how sick people in Europe live or die. There is a lot to wrap one’s head around:
 
  • Why do our governments accept being kept in the dark about the true monetary value of a medicine?
  • Why does the EU not use its muscles to negotiate medicine prices on behalf of all Europeans, like it did for the covid vaccines?
  • Why has the regulator for market access of medicines, the European Medicines Agency, lowered the scientific thresholstad for allowing new drugs to be sold?
  • Where do the bumper profits made by big pharma really end up?
  • Are pharmaceutical firms using patient groups and charities for their own corporate interests?
  • How come the pharmaceutical industry is developing loads of highly advanced precision drugs for small patient groups, but hardly addresses our common, growing threat of antimicrobial resistance?
  • Medicines should be a human right for all, not primarily one of the world’s most lucrative businesses. What could such a system look like?

The investigation, Deadly prices: how big pharma feeds inequality in Europe, is released from today with media partners in 20 countries across Europe. You will find the series published on our English website and with our media partners below. In addition, important stories will be published in German, French, Italian and Spanish. 

More from Deadly prices

HELP US CONNECT THE DOTS ON EUROPE

Support cross-border journalism

Publications

Auf Wunsch der Lobbyisten
Auf Wunsch der Lobbyisten

Süddeutsche Zeitung, Germany

11 October 2024

Gesetzesänderung zugunsten von US-Pharmakonzern
Gesetzesänderung zugunsten von US-Pharmakonzern

Tagesschau, Germany

11 October 2024

Pharmakonzerne zahlen Millionen an Patienten­organisationen
Pharmakonzerne zahlen Millionen an Patienten­organisationen

Tagesanzeiger, Switzerland

27 September 2024

Patient groups in Europe received €110m from drug companies in 2022
Patient groups in Europe received €110m from drug companies in 2022

British Medical Journal, United Kingdom

26 September 2024

Mέγας χορηγός των ελληνικών ενώσεων ασθενών η φαρμακοβιομηχανία
Mέγας χορηγός των ελληνικών ενώσεων ασθενών η φαρμακοβιομηχανία

EfSyn, Greece

23 September 2024

Μέγας χορηγός των ελληνικών ενώσεων ασθενών η φαρμακοβιομηχανία
Μέγας χορηγός των ελληνικών ενώσεων ασθενών η φαρμακοβιομηχανία

Reporters United, Greece

23 September 2024

Big Pharma, 12 milioni all’Italia: autonomia a rischio e poca trasparenza
Big Pharma, 12 milioni all’Italia: autonomia a rischio e poca trasparenza

Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy

16 September 2024

Drug firms finance Europe’s 'patient groups' with multi-million donations
Drug firms finance Europe’s 'patient groups' with multi-million donations

EUobserver, Belgium

16 September 2024

Las farmacéuticas destinan 110 millones al año a financiar a las asociaciones europeas de pacientes
Las farmacéuticas destinan 110 millones al año a financiar a las asociaciones europeas de pacientes

infoLibre, Spain

15 September 2024

Pharmaindustrie finanziert Patientengruppen mit Millionenspenden
Pharmaindustrie finanziert Patientengruppen mit Millionenspenden

Süddeutsche Zeitung, Germany

14 September 2024

How Big Pharma preys on poor countries – and patients pay the price
How Big Pharma preys on poor countries – and patients pay the price

OpenDemocracy, UK

17 July 2024

Vrzeli v razpoložljivosti zdravil proti raku v EU
Vrzeli v razpoložljivosti zdravil proti raku v EU

Ostro, Slovenia

15 July 2024

Pharmakonzerne horten Milliarden in Steueroasen, während Patienten um ihr Leben kämpfen
Pharmakonzerne horten Milliarden in Steueroasen, während Patienten um ihr Leben kämpfen

Der Standard, Austria

7 July 2024

De la transparencia a la investigación pública: cómo lograr que los fármacos sean un derecho y no un negocio
De la transparencia a la investigación pública: cómo lograr que los fármacos sean un derecho y no un negocio

infoLibre, Spain

7 July 2024

TAPVAD HINNAD | „Turg on täis ravimeid, mis pakuvad ainult lootust.“ Euroopa Ravimiameti kohal hõljuvad suurtootjate raha ja mõjuvõim
TAPVAD HINNAD | „Turg on täis ravimeid, mis pakuvad ainult lootust.“ Euroopa Ravimiameti kohal hõljuvad suurtootjate raha ja mõjuvõim

Eesti Ekspress, Estonia

1 July 2024

Quince multinacionales farmacéuticas disponen de más de 1.300 filiales en paraísos fiscales
Quince multinacionales farmacéuticas disponen de más de 1.300 filiales en paraísos fiscales

infoLibre, Spain

29 June 2024

Pharma firms maximise profits in Ireland as patients struggle with drug prices
Pharma firms maximise profits in Ireland as patients struggle with drug prices

The Journal, Ireland

28 June 2024

Inovatívne lieky zachraňujú životy, no v štátoch EÚ nie sú rovnako dostupné a preplácané zo zdravotného poistenia
Inovatívne lieky zachraňujú životy, no v štátoch EÚ nie sú rovnako dostupné a preplácané zo zdravotného poistenia

Investigatívne centrum Jána Kuciaka, Slovakia

25 June 2024

Las farmacéuticas se resisten a crear nuevos antibióticos mientras Ucrania dispara el temor a una crisis sanitaria
Las farmacéuticas se resisten a crear nuevos antibióticos mientras Ucrania dispara el temor a una crisis sanitaria

infoLibre, Spain

25 June 2024

Tajná evropská jednání o cenách léků a jejich dostupnosti
Tajná evropská jednání o cenách léků a jejich dostupnosti

Investigace.cz, Czech Republic

24 June 2024

Medisin dyrest i fattige EU-land
Medisin dyrest i fattige EU-land

Klassekampen, Norway

22 June 2024

Wie die Pharmaindustrie Europas Arzneimittelbehörde EMA beeinflusst
Wie die Pharmaindustrie Europas Arzneimittelbehörde EMA beeinflusst

Der Standard, Austria

21 June 2024

Φαρμακοβιομηχανία: Τα λεφτά σου ή τη ζωή σου
Φαρμακοβιομηχανία: Τα λεφτά σου ή τη ζωή σου

Reporters United, Greece

20 June 2024

Riasztó a magyar tb-támogatásból hiányzó kritikus gyógyszerek száma
Riasztó a magyar tb-támogatásból hiányzó kritikus gyógyszerek száma

Partizán, Hungary

19 June 2024

Tar omkamp om skjulte priser
Tar omkamp om skjulte priser

Klassekampen, Norway

17 June 2024

Las puertas giratorias funcionan sin obstáculos en la Agencia Europea de Medicamentos
Las puertas giratorias funcionan sin obstáculos en la Agencia Europea de Medicamentos

infoLibre, Spain

16 June 2024

Sanità da ricchi, come si muore in Ue: senza rimborsi ai pazienti, negato l’accesso ai farmaci salva-vita
Sanità da ricchi, come si muore in Ue: senza rimborsi ai pazienti, negato l’accesso ai farmaci salva-vita

Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy

16 June 2024

Sanità, porte girevoli tra le aziende e l’Agenzia europea del farmaco: affari e conflitti
Sanità, porte girevoli tra le aziende e l’Agenzia europea del farmaco: affari e conflitti

Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy

16 June 2024

Sanità, studi clinici di Ema: così in Europa viene sacrificata la salute dei pazienti
Sanità, studi clinici di Ema: così in Europa viene sacrificata la salute dei pazienti

Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy

16 June 2024

Actos. Il farmaco per il diabete, ritirato in Germania e Francia, ancora prescritto in Italia (e rimborsato)
Actos. Il farmaco per il diabete, ritirato in Germania e Francia, ancora prescritto in Italia (e rimborsato)

Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy

16 June 2024

 La guerra dei farmaci e il sistema segreto dei prezzi: gli accordi imposti da ‘Big Pharma’.
La guerra dei farmaci e il sistema segreto dei prezzi: gli accordi imposti da ‘Big Pharma’.

Il Fatto Quotidiano, Italy

16 June 2024

Big Pharma influence hangs over Europe’s medicines regulator
Big Pharma influence hangs over Europe’s medicines regulator

EUobserver, Belgium

16 June 2024

La Agencia Europea de Medicamentos recibe casi la mitad de sus ingresos de 21 grandes farmacéuticas
La Agencia Europea de Medicamentos recibe casi la mitad de sus ingresos de 21 grandes farmacéuticas

infoLibre, Spain

15 June 2024

Kunnen we onze medicijnen nog wel vertrouwen?
Kunnen we onze medicijnen nog wel vertrouwen?

Trouw, Netherlands

15 June 2024

La Audiencia Nacional avala la batalla de Sanidad para impedir que se conozca el precio real de los fármacos
La Audiencia Nacional avala la batalla de Sanidad para impedir que se conozca el precio real de los fármacos

infoLibre, Spain

14 June 2024

Pengene eller livet
Pengene eller livet

Klassekampen, Norway

14 June 2024

Európa a gyógyszeripar markában
Európa a gyógyszeripar markában

Partizán, Hungary

13 June 2024

Kad Modrim dzīvošanai nepieciešamās zāles apmaksās valsts? Skaidri uz to neviens neatbild
Kad Modrim dzīvošanai nepieciešamās zāles apmaksās valsts? Skaidri uz to neviens neatbild

Delfi, Latvia

13 June 2024

Vertailu: Tärkeiden syöpälääkkeiden saatavuudessa on valtavia eroja Euroopan sisällä
Vertailu: Tärkeiden syöpälääkkeiden saatavuudessa on valtavia eroja Euroopan sisällä

Yleisradio Oy , Finland

13 June 2024

Begehrte Medikamente, hohe Preise: So laufen Europas geheime Pharma-Deals
Begehrte Medikamente, hohe Preise: So laufen Europas geheime Pharma-Deals

Der Standard, Austria

13 June 2024

TAPVAD HINNAD | Raskelt haiged vajavad uusi ülikalleid ravimeid, mis võivad teha imet. Eesti ei suuda neid kinni maksta
TAPVAD HINNAD | Raskelt haiged vajavad uusi ülikalleid ravimeid, mis võivad teha imet. Eesti ei suuda neid kinni maksta

Eesti Ekspress, Estonia

13 June 2024

TAPVAD HINNAD | Oled vait või maksad rohkem: ravimifirmad sunnivad valitsusi salatsema, et oma ravimeid kallimalt müüa
TAPVAD HINNAD | Oled vait või maksad rohkem: ravimifirmad sunnivad valitsusi salatsema, et oma ravimeid kallimalt müüa

Eesti Ekspress, Estonia

13 June 2024

Tödliche-Preise: Der ungleiche Zugang zu Medikamenten in der EU
Tödliche-Preise: Der ungleiche Zugang zu Medikamenten in der EU

arte journal, France/Germany

13 June 2024

Europe: la santé hors de prix
Europe: la santé hors de prix

arte journal, France/Germany

13 June 2024

Tödliche Preise – Ungleicher Zugang zu lebenswichtigen Medikamenten in der EU
Tödliche Preise – Ungleicher Zugang zu lebenswichtigen Medikamenten in der EU

Deutschlandfunk, Germany

13 June 2024

In EU-Staaten fehlen Medikamente - Interview
In EU-Staaten fehlen Medikamente - Interview

tagesschau24, Germany

13 June 2024

Lauterbachs Pharmagesetz: Milliardengeschenk für Konzerne?
Lauterbachs Pharmagesetz: Milliardengeschenk für Konzerne?

Das Erste, Germany

13 June 2024

Zahl oder stirb
Zahl oder stirb

Süddeutsche Zeitung, Germany

13 June 2024

Tödliche Preise: Wenn der Wohnort darüber entscheidet, wer Krebs überlebt
Tödliche Preise: Wenn der Wohnort darüber entscheidet, wer Krebs überlebt

Der Standard, Austria

13 June 2024

 Werden Arzneimittelpreise zum Geheimnis?
Werden Arzneimittelpreise zum Geheimnis?

Tagesschau, Germany

13 June 2024

Kalju Kivi sai uue lootuse kallist ravimist: muidugi on mul veel unistusi
Kalju Kivi sai uue lootuse kallist ravimist: muidugi on mul veel unistusi

Eesti Ekspress, Estonia

13 June 2024

Gyvybės kaina (I): nuo mirties gelbstintys vaistai metais stringa Lietuvos biurokratijos gniaužtuose, viceministras siūlo nedramatizuoti
Gyvybės kaina (I): nuo mirties gelbstintys vaistai metais stringa Lietuvos biurokratijos gniaužtuose, viceministras siūlo nedramatizuoti

15min-lit, Lithuania

13 June 2024

Cystic fibrosis ‘miracle’ drugs priced higher for poorer EU countries
Cystic fibrosis ‘miracle’ drugs priced higher for poorer EU countries

The Journal, Ireland

13 June 2024

Pieniądze albo życie. Międzynarodowe śledztwo dziennikarskie pokazuje ciemną stronę Big Pharmy
Pieniądze albo życie. Międzynarodowe śledztwo dziennikarskie pokazuje ciemną stronę Big Pharmy

Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland

13 June 2024

 La bolsa o la vida: las negociaciones secretas que imponen en Europa las farmacéuticas
La bolsa o la vida: las negociaciones secretas que imponen en Europa las farmacéuticas

infoLibre, Spain

13 June 2024

El fármaco milagro contra la fibrosis quística por el que pagan un precio más caro países con menos recursos
El fármaco milagro contra la fibrosis quística por el que pagan un precio más caro países con menos recursos

infoLibre, Spain

12 June 2024

Alarmantes lagunas en la disponibilidad de medicamentos innovadores en la UE
Alarmantes lagunas en la disponibilidad de medicamentos innovadores en la UE

infoLibre, Spain

12 June 2024

Medicine dealers: Europe’s secret drug negotiations
Medicine dealers: Europe’s secret drug negotiations

EUobserver, Belgium

12 June 2024