What the EU Critical Medicines Act means for lung cancer
Lung Cancer Europe has published a new fact sheet on the EU Critical Medicines Act and how it could support people living with lung cancer.
What the Critical Medicines Act is
Proposed in March 2025, the EU Critical Medicines Act sets out new measures to improve the availability, supply and production of critical medicines within the EU. The European Medicines Agency defines critical medicines according to the seriousness of the diseases they treat and the availability of alternative treatments. They include antibiotics, insulin, vaccines and medicines used to treat cancer, heart disease and diabetes. The Act focuses on making medicine supply chains stronger and more reliable, helping countries work together to buy medicines, and improving fair access to medicines across Europe.
Why it significant for lung cancer
For cancer, this matters a great deal. One in five critical medicines in the EU are used to treat cancer, and the medicines used in lung cancer treatment cannot easily be substituted if shortages occur. Shortages of lung cancer drugs, such as platinum-based chemotherapies, targeted therapies, and immunotherapies, can lead to treatment delays with immediate consequences for survival.
Three ways the Act affects lung cancer treatment
The fact sheet sets out three ways the Act affects lung cancer treatment. First, a protected list of critical medicines, updated each year by the European Medicines Agency, gives many lung cancer medicines priority for close monitoring, early action to prevent shortages, and coordinated EU-wide responses. Second, the Act can strategically support medicine production in Europe by naming certain manufacturers as “Strategic Projects,” helping to increase production, stabilise supplies of older, low-cost medicines, and reduce reliance on a small number of suppliers outside the EU. Third, the Act supports joint procurement, allowing EU countries to join forces when buying critical medicines and strengthening their collective leverage, which can improve access in smaller or lower-income countries and reduce differences in cancer care across Europe.
The Act’s limits
The fact sheet is also clear about the Act’s limits. Companies receiving EU or national funding are not clearly required to supply all EU countries equally, so access may still differ from country to country. The Act also focuses on availability rather than cost, and decisions about pricing and reimbursement remain national, which means some people may still face delays or lack of access due to cost.
What this means overall
On balance, the EU Critical Medicines Act is a major step forward in protecting people from medicine shortages. For people with lung cancer, it helps reduce the risk of treatment interruptions and supports more reliable access to essential medicines. It does not, however, resolve every access issue, especially those linked to pricing and national reimbursement.
What happens next
The Act is progressing. The EU Council and the EU Parliament have come to a provisional agreement, formal approval is expected in late 2026, and the Act is expected to enter into force in early 2027.