European Medicines Agency imposes restrictions on activities of former Executive Director

*Update* March 2011

Following the joint civil society letter to Commissioner Dalli and the EMA management board on the former Executive Director of the EMA taking up positions in the pharmaceutical industry, the EMA Management Board has decided to impose limitations on the activities allowed to do for two years following leaving the Agency.

There is a prohibition on taking of managerial and executive positions in the pharmaceutical industry. Advice related to products or activities that fall within the remit of the Agency is not allowed. The conditions set by the Board also require that Mr Lönngren should neither have contacts with Agency staff or committee members in the context of his professional activities, nor represent or accompany third parties at meetings with the Agency.

In the press release announcing the decision, the Board emphasised the importance protecting the public interest and transparency.

Activities of former EMA Executive Director Thomas Lönngren

Public health, consumer groups and transparency campaigners have sent a joint letter (see attachment below) to the European Commission challenging the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) decision to allow its former Executive Director, Thomas Lönngren, to take up an advisory role within the private pharmaceutical sector just weeks after leaving his position with the regulatory agency.

The Alliance for Lobbying Transparency and Ethics Regulation (ALTER-EU), Health Action International (HAI) Europe, the International Society of Drug Bulletins (ISDB) and other public health advocates express their concern that the EMA did not adequately follow the procedures outlined in the EU Staff Regulations designed to prevent undue influence in the medical regulatory process.

Joint Open Letter on conflicts of interest

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