Felipe Pastrana, vice president and general manager of AbbVie España, warned this week that Spain risks losing ground in the global lead for medical new idea unless it acts quickly. He made the case at the VII symposium of the Observatorio de la Sanidad.
Spain’s population has grown from 47 to 50 million, but spending on medicines as a share of GDP remains at 1.6%. “We are well below the European average,” he said. In his view, that gap threatens patient care and Spain’s scientific reputation. AstraZeneca’s data show that Spain remains a leading European location for clinical research. The company plans to invest about €700 million in 2025 and run 258 clinical trials involving more than 15,000 patients.
In Madrid alone, the health and biotechnology sector includes about 800 companies and employs 50,000 people. The city also has a concentration of research centers, universities and hospitals.
Pastrana outlined AbbVie’s plans to address the trend: continued investment in Spain’s research network, an expanded AbbVie Spain Research Academy and closer ties with institutions such as the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. The work focuses on cancer, neuroscience and immunology, areas where Spain already has a strong clinical-trial record. CPHI, an industry source, projects that the Spanish pharma market will reach roughly €35 billion by 2026 and grow by 4.8% a year through 2030. Pastrana said that growth gives Spain a solid base for further investment.
For Pastrana, new idea reaches beyond new molecules. “A molecule brings new idea, but if you only change the molecule, there will be no disruption,” he said. He called for a basic rethink of care practices and closer alignment among researchers, doctors and policymakers. Strong R&D, he said, could cut the time needed to develop new therapies by up to half. Incyte Biosciences Iberia has also identified delays between drug approval and patient access as a major hurdle, despite €130 million going into Spanish R&D over the past eight years.
Pastrana also challenged the idea that healthcare spending is simply a cost. “Every euro invested in health has an economic impact of four euros,” he said, citing studies that link pharma investment to higher productivity and less absenteeism, as well as a better quality of life. He said 73% of the rise in life expectancy comes directly from new medicines. Farmaindustria, the basic industry group, has called for faster administrative processes and more early-phase research. It also wants basic care and patients to play a bigger role in maintaining Spain’s edge in clinical trials.
In October 2026, Farmaindustria urged the new Spanish government to form a strategic alliance to make Spain a European benchmark in health and innovation. The call reflects a sector-wide push for a long-term strategy that extends beyond individual company interests.
Pastrana said the US now drives over 40% of global pharma new idea and China 45%, while Europe falls behind. He warned that the gap is eroding Europe’s and Spain’s position in the sector. The concerns echo recent reports of regulatory delays and investment difficulties for other pharma companies in Spain.
Pastrana’s message to Spain’s next government is direct: make public-private alliances a priority to protect the future of the health system. The outcome will affect the pharma industry and Spain’s economy, as well as the lives of millions. As the global new idea gap grows, Spain’s next moves will determine whether it stays in the race or falls further behind.
