THEItalian pharmaceutical industry has reached the first place worldwide for export growth between 2021 and 2013, with a value of over 49 billion euros out of a total of 52 billion in production last year. A significant achievement considering the 30% increase in costs in the two-year period considered.
The research presented last week at the Assembly of Anac have highlighted that medicines and vaccines represent the second Made in Italy sector in terms of foreign balance, generating a value of 17 billion in 2023. Furthermore, the share of pharmaceutical exports in total manufacturing has more than doubled in the last 20 years, going from 3,8, 8,3% to XNUMX%.
Pharmaceuticals confirms itself as a strategic sector for Italy
The sector is confirmed to be highly strategic for the country, not only generating wealth but also looking to the future: investments in the area amounted to 3,6 billion, of which 2 in research and development. Commitment translates into a increase in the number of employees (70.000, +2% in 2023 and +9% in 5 years), with particular attention to young (almost 20% more under 35s in the last 5 years) and women (who represent 45% of the workforce).
The Italian pharmaceutical industry stands out for its cutting-edge corporate welfare and represents the first manufacturing sector, second Istat, for competitiveness, with the highest added value per employee. Furthermore, a Memorandum of Understanding was recently signed with Egypt, as part of the Mattei plan, for partnerships between companies and for training, through academic and professional exchanges of teachers and students.
The innovative capacity of the sector stands out
The heart of success is the innovative capacity: in the last 5 years, the questions of patent pharmaceuticals grew by 35%, compared to +23% of the large EU partners. A figure that reflects the ongoing scientific and technological acceleration, with artificial intelligence, data-driven industry, space research and new clinical trial models that pave the way for increasingly personalized therapies. At the beginning of 2024, a historic record was reached for drugs in development in the world: 23.000, with investments in R&D by pharmaceutical companies of over 1.700 billion dollars between 2023 and 2028.
The aim is to reduce the gap from the main competitors
A Globally, the goal is to reduce the gap with the main competitors such as the USA, China, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, which are investing massively in strengthening their industrial structures. The investment gap in R&D between the EU and the USA has gone from 20 billion dollars to 2 in 25 years. With 60% of new drug launches taking place in the USA while in the EU it is less than 30%.
According to recent Efpia data, in 2023 China overtook Europe as an area of origin for new drugs: out of 90 molecules globally, 28 come from the USA, 25 from China, 17 from the EU. After all, in terms of research and development, China is growing at a rate 3 times faster than that of the Old Continent.
