Pharmaceutical companies required to guarantee treatments after clinical trials end

From Friday 23 October, pharmaceutical companies are legally required to continue providing free treatments to clinical trial participants who need them after the study concludes. This obligation, established by a new Ministry of Health ordinance following legislation from March 2026, applies when the treatment is clinically necessary and no equivalent alternatives exist. The sponsor must cover all costs and ensure treatment continuity until the medication is available for standard distribution within the National Health Service (SNS).