Shortages of medicines: a balancing act

Data, trust and the future of medicines

From clinical trials to real‑world evidence. How is data shaping the future of medicines? Discover how EMA uses data to guide safer, better decisions.   In this episode of Inside EMA, we explore how different types of data are shaping the future of medicines regulation in Europe. EMA experts Peter Arlett and Denise Umuhire explain how real-world evidence - data from electronic healthcare records - complements clinical trials to support decisions on the safety and effectiveness of medicines. The episode also looks at DARWIN EU, the Agency’s network for generating evidence across Europe, and how data is used in a secure and transparent way to build trust.   Learn more: • HMA–EMA catalogue of real-world data studies [https://catalogues.ema.europa.eu/catalogue-rwd-studies] • EMA paper on Excellence in clinical evidence [https://ascpt.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/cpt.70107?af=R] • EMA vision on Real-world evidence [https://ascpt.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cpt.3596] • DARWIN EU network [https://www.darwin-eu.org/]

From idea to medicines: how EMA supports innovation

How does EMA help turn innovative ideas into real medicines? In this episode of Inside EMA, we look at how the European Medicines Agency supports developers from early concepts through to patient access. The discussion highlights how regulation and innovation are not opposites, but complementary forces that help deliver safe and effective medicines. Topics include early scientific dialogue, support for SMEs, and EMA’s engagement with innovation ecosystems across Europe. 🎙️ Featuring Emmanuel Cormier, Head of regulatoryscience and innovation, and Alessandro Faia, Communications officer. Learn more: Opportunities to interact with EMA during the development of a medicine [https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/research-development#opportunities-to-interact-with-ema-during-the-development-of-a-medicine-38736]

Beyond the scale, obesity in the age of GLP-1s

Obesity rates continue to rise across Europe, but the reasons go far beyond diet and exercise. In this episode, we explore obesity as a chronic disease and look at how weight‑loss medicines like GLP‑1 receptor agonists are influencing treatment and expectations. EMA expert Bart van der Schueren joins us to discuss the biological, behavioural and societal factors that influence weight, and what it means to try to lose weight today.

Inoculated with doubt: misinformation and public trust

This episode of ‘Inside EMA’ delves into one of today’s most pressing public health challenges: health misinformation. Konstantina Boumaki, from the European Patients’ Forum EPF), and Steffen Thirstrup, EMA’s Chief Medical Officer, address the rise of health misinformation, the drivers of trust, especially among young people, and the actions EMA is taking to strengthen confidence in medicines and science.

Shortages of medicines: a balancing act

Medicine shortages are a growing challenge in today’s complex global supply chain. In this episode of Inside EMA, Monica Dias, EMA’s Head of Supply and Availability of Medicines and Medical Devices, joins communications officers Alessandro Faia and Giulia Gabrielli to explain how the Agency works, together with national authorities, to prevent and manage shortages across the EU. They also discuss the communication campaign Fighting medicine shortages: it takes a team [https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/post-authorisation/medicine-shortages-availability-issues/fighting-medicine-shortages-it-takes-team] and why public awareness and strong collaboration with stakeholders are essential.