Moves are under way in France to give the biosimilars market a shot in the arm by setting a 70% target for initial prescribing rates and encouraging pharmacist substitution through the creation of similar biological medicine groups.

Europe’s Innovative Medicines Initiative is to get €90m in funding for programs targeting the coronavirus outbreak.

The Belgian authorities are taking steps to reduce the consumption of benzodiazepine-containing medicines, and have also reiterated the risks associated with the increasing use of opioid medications.