Lung Cancer Europe sets out its position on the EU Biotech Act after Brussels expert dialogue

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Written By Web Team

In brief

  • Our President and Vice President joined MEPs and experts in Brussels to discuss the EU Biotech Act.

  • Lung Cancer Europe has published its position on the Act, with six changes to make sure innovation reaches people with lung cancer in every member state.

On 12 October 2026, Debra Montague, President, and Angeliki Souri, Vice President, represented Lung Cancer Europe at the European Parliament Intergroup on Cancer and Rare Diseases’ Expert Dialogue on the EU Biotech Act in Brussels. The meeting brought together policymakers, researchers, healthcare professionals and patient organisations to discuss how the Act could support European research and innovation while improving access to new treatments.

Today we are publishing our position on the Act. For background on what the Act proposes, see our fact sheet.


What was discussed in Brussels?

The dialogue focused on three connected priorities: a more supportive environment for clinical trials, stronger European research and innovation, and making sure people benefit from advances in treatment.

Speakers called for simpler, faster and more proportionate trial rules that keep safety and scientific standards high. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) stressed that a one-size-fits-all approach does not suit every trial. Research that improves how existing treatments are used, and reduces unnecessary treatment burden, is as important in cancer care as developing new medicines. These points echo our recent policy briefing on clinical trials.

The discussion also covered reducing geographical inequalities in access to advanced therapies, supporting centres of excellence, and giving patient representatives and healthcare professionals a meaningful role in governance.


Who did we meet?

Debra and Angeliki met MEP Vytenis Andriukaitis, the European Parliament’s rapporteur on the Biotech Act for the Public Health Committee, who opened the launch of our 9th Report in 2024. They also met MEP Stine Bosse, Co-Chair of the Intergroup on Cancer and Rare Diseases and Vice-Chair of the Public Health Committee, and spoke with Dr Denis Lacombe, Director General of EORTC.


What is Lung Cancer Europe’s position?

We welcome the Act’s aim of faster, more competitive health biotechnology. But it will only help people with lung cancer if new treatments and tests reach them in every member state. We are asking the European Parliament and the Council to:

  1. Tie public support to unmet medical need, real benefit and enforceable commitments on access.

  2. Delete the proposed 12-month extension of supplementary protection certificates, or restrict it strictly.

  3. Make sure combined studies lead to biomarker testing that people can actually get.

  4. Protect trial quality and make trials easier to join across borders.

  5. Give patient organisations a funded, structured role in governing the Act.

  6. Safeguard trial participants’ data rights and align the Act with health technology assessment.

Our position draws on the European Patients’ Forum’s recommendations and adds what is specific to lung cancer.

Read our position statement


What happens next?

The European Parliament and the Council are now working on their positions on the Act. We will keep working with MEPs and partners to make sure the final text protects safety, access and involvement for people affected by lung cancer.

As the Brussels dialogue made clear, Europe’s ambitions for biotechnology and cancer research must be matched by policies that enable high-quality research, encourage innovation and ensure equitable access to its benefits.


Sources

Web Team
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