Tomorrow, on 30 July 2026, the “GKV-Beitragssatzstabilisierungsgesetz” (GKV-BStabG) will enter into force, marking the culmination of a fast-paced and politically contentious legislative process. The reform, which has attracted significant attention, introduces a broad package of cost-containment measures across the statutory health insurance (GKV) system. Several of these specifically target pharmaceutical
Continue Reading What does the GKV-BStabG Reform Change for Pharma Pricing & Reimbursement in Germany? And the Reforms Are Not Over: What to Expect From the New German Minister of Health and the Pharma Dialogue?Germany
Germany plans significant cuts in drug pricing and reimbursement – How would the GKV-Beitragssatzstabilisierungsgesetz impact pharmaceutical companies?
I. Background – From Pharma-Dialogue to Compulsory Price Cuts
Tomorrow, on 29 April 2026, the German Government is expected to adopt a new law to stabilize the finances of the statutory health insurances. This draft law titled “GKV-Beitragssatzstabilisierungsgesetz” (GKV-BStabG) proposes manifold cost-containment measures that would also significantly impact pharmaceutical companies.
Continue Reading Germany plans significant cuts in drug pricing and reimbursement – How would the GKV-Beitragssatzstabilisierungsgesetz impact pharmaceutical companies?Germany changes rules for Digital Health Applications (DiGA) – More Reporting, More Transparency, More Work
Last week, Germany’s Federal Ministry of Health has adjusted the rules governing Digital Health Applications (DiGA) once more. Key changes include new reporting obligations that require manufacturers to measure and document the success of their digital health apps. This reform adds notable operational pressure, while the reported outcomes will directly…
Continue Reading Germany changes rules for Digital Health Applications (DiGA) – More Reporting, More Transparency, More WorkGerman Government launches new Pharma & MedTech Dialogue – Broad agenda, big hopes but unclear prospects
Germany has kicked off a new Pharma and MedTech Dialogue that aims to develop new policies and regulatory reform proposals to re‑establish Germany as a competitive, innovation‑friendly location for life sciences R&D and manufacturing. The outcome of this dialogue shall be the basis for a new German Pharma and MedTech…
Continue Reading German Government launches new Pharma & MedTech Dialogue – Broad agenda, big hopes but unclear prospectsInfluencer Marketing – German court sets new Guardrails for Pharmaceutical Advertising on Social Media
By Dr. Dr. Adem Koyuncu & Maximilian Aretz on
In a landmark judgement, the Higher Regional Court of Cologne has set new standards for pharmaceutical advertising with influencers. First, a key point from the decision is that the court qualifies paid influencers as agents of the drug company with respective consequences for the company (discussed below). Second…
Continue Reading Influencer Marketing – German court sets new Guardrails for Pharmaceutical Advertising on Social MediaNew German Guidelines on GDPR Requirements for International Transfers of Health Data in Medical Research
On September 17, 2025, the German Supervisory Authorities (Konferenz der unabhängigen Datenschutzaufsichtsbehörden des Bundes und der Länder, DSK) published new guidelines and recommendations addressing the complex requirements for transferring personal data, particularly health data (including health data contained in biomaterials), to countries outside of the European Economic…
Continue Reading New German Guidelines on GDPR Requirements for International Transfers of Health Data in Medical ResearchGermany enacts Standard Contractual Clauses for pharmaceutical clinical trial agreements – Changes for medical device studies also on the horizon
Germany has taken another step to improve the conditions for pharmaceutical research & development in Germany. Now, the Federal Government has adopted the “Standard Contractual Clauses” for pharmaceutical clinical trial agreements. In this blog, we discuss what the new standard clauses cover and how they will affect clinical trials in…
Continue Reading Germany enacts Standard Contractual Clauses for pharmaceutical clinical trial agreements – Changes for medical device studies also on the horizonEuropean Court of Justice requested to clarify the scope of the market exclusivity right for orphan drugs – German courts remain divided
In an earlier blog, we had reported on an interesting litigation case concerning the legal scope of the market exclusivity right for orphan drugs in the EU. Meanwhile, there have been further developments in this court case and its key questions have now been referred to the European Court…
Continue Reading European Court of Justice requested to clarify the scope of the market exclusivity right for orphan drugs – German courts remain dividedGermany enacts stricter requirements for the processing of Health Data using Cloud-Computing – with potential side effects for Medical Research with Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices
On 1 July 2024, Germany has enacted stricter requirements for the processing of health data when using cloud-computing services. The new Section 393 SGB V aims to establish a uniform standard for the use of cloud-computing services in the statutory healthcare system which covers around 90% of the German population. In this blog…
Continue Reading Germany enacts stricter requirements for the processing of Health Data using Cloud-Computing – with potential side effects for Medical Research with Pharmaceuticals and Medical DevicesGermany amends drug pricing and reimbursement laws with “Medical Research Act” – Drug pricing becomes intertwined with local clinical research expectations
Last week, on 4 July 2024, the German Parliament (Bundestag) has passed significant changes to the country’s drug pricing and reimbursement laws. Just six months after the German Federal Health Ministry (BMG) presented a first draft bill for a “Medical Research Act” (Medizinforschungsgesetz or MFG), the German…
Continue Reading Germany amends drug pricing and reimbursement laws with “Medical Research Act” – Drug pricing becomes intertwined with local clinical research expectations