European Study Highlights Declining Antibiotic Prices Amid Rising Costs and Shortages

Amid World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week, Viatris Inc. and Medicines for Europe presented a study revealing the economic factors impacting healthcare across Europe. The study found that while antibiotic prices have decreased by 10.4% from 2020 to 2024, production costs have surged, threatening the viability of essential medicines. This includes a significant increase in energy and labor costs, with gas prices climbing by 88%.

These financial pressures coincide with reported shortages in antibiotic access, with 240 drugs withdrawn and 385 shortages across 16 countries during a two-week period in 2025. The study calls for pricing reforms, including price indexation to inflation, to ensure the availability of off-patent medicines.

The report stresses the urgency of policy reform, advocating for dynamic tiered pricing models and procurement practices to stabilize this critical sector. These changes aim to prevent market distortions and ensure sustained access to lifesaving antibiotics, emphasizing their crucial role in public health.