Newsroom News At Zentiva, we provide health and wellbeing for all generations Zentiva Demands EU‑Level Stop‑the‑Clock on the UWWTD to Protect Medicine Availability Newsroom Prague, 23 February 2026 – Zentiva, a leading European manufacturer of high‑quality and affordable medicines, responds to the decision of the General Court of the European Union concerning the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD) reiterating that the UWWTD, in its current form, poses a significant risk to the secure supply of essential medicines in Europe.Following the adoption of the Directive, despite major concerns raised by 16 EU Member States, in 2025 Zentiva filed a legal action to request annulment of the Directive to safeguard the secure supply of essential medicines for the patients who depend on them every day.The recent decision clarifies how the Court interprets legal standing under EU law. It concludes that Zentiva and other generic and off patent medicine manufacturers are not considered individually affected, and therefore do not have a direct judicial route to challenge the Directive - even though its impact on the sector and on the medicines we supply across Europe is real and substantial. Importantly, the Court did not assess the substance of the case - including whether the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme under the UWWTD is compatible with EU law or whether the cost model is workable, proportionate, or safe for securing the continuity of medicine supply. Etiam malesuada tempus viverra If implemented without correction, the Directive may render many essential medicines economically unsustainable to produce. The result would directly affect patients across all EU Member States, reducing access to affordable treatments and increasing the risk of medicine shortages. Ultimately, patients would pay the price. The Court outcome does not resolve these long standing issues - it leaves the substance of the Directive and its practical impact unaddressed, reinforcing the need for a political and policy‑level correction before full implementation causes harm.The generics industry counts for 70% of all dispensed medicines, and 9 out of 10 critical medicines. If no further measures are taken and the Directive in its current form is transposed into national legislation across 27 countries, it is highly likely to lead to massive shortages. Saltofte further commented: “As the CEO of a European-based company and President of Medicines for Europe, the representation of the off-patent medicine industry, I will not sit back and watch this happen. We will continue to insist on a solution that we must develop together - not in silos, and not without industry. This issue requires all stakeholders at one table to pause the implementation, repair it at EU level, and relaunch it in a workable way across Europe - ensuring clean water without jeopardizing the availability, accessibility, and affordability of healthcare for the people in Europe who depend on these medicines every day.”What needs to happen nextThe Directive has been adopted and is entering national implementation, making political leadership and dialogue more urgent than ever. Zentiva calls for:A pause in the current implementation of the UWWTD at EU level, allowing an inclusive dialogue of EU institutions, Member States, water operators, patients, healthcare systems and industry,Conduct new independent studies, as part of a necessary repair of the Directive, based on sound science, proportionality and real world healthcare economics, to assess the impact on the availability, accessibility and affordability of medicines,A relaunch of the Directive in a workable form that delivers clean water without jeopardising the availability, accessibility and affordability of medicines for patients across Europe.  Zentiva provides health and wellbeing for all generations, with focus on developing, producing, and delivering high-quality, affordable medicines to more than 100 million people in over 40 countries across Europe and beyond. Zentiva has four wholly-owned manufacturing sites and a broad network of external manufacturing partners to ensure supply security. Zentiva employs more than 5,400 unique talents, bonded together by a commitment to the people who depend on our medicines every day. Visit us at www.zentiva.com  About Zentiva Media contacts:  Newsroom

Zentiva Demands EU‑Level Stop‑the‑Clock on the UWWTD to Protect Medicine Availability

2026-02-23-uwwtd

Newsroom News At Zentiva, we provide health and wellbeing for all generations Sustainability in Action At Zentiva, sustainability is at the heart of our mission. We’re proud to present the newest episode of Zentiva’s Sustainability Podcast, featuring Mihai Zotta, Conservation Director at Conservation Carpathia Foundation. This episode explores the foundation’s work to restore and protect the Carpathian forests, one of Europe’s most important biodiversity hotspots. Newsroom Episode #15 Rewilding Romania’s ForestsKey topics include:The mission and impact of Conservation Carpathia Foundation in the Carpathian MountainsHow rewilding and conservation efforts restore biodiversity and protect Europe’s last wild forestsThe benefits of conservation for local communities and wildlifeThe importance of partnerships and community engagement in driving sustainable changeAs part of Zentiva’s commitment to Sustainability, we have pledged to plant 1 million trees by 2030. Every year, the teams in our countries actively learn about tree planting and fulfill our commitment.  Listen to the full episode to discover how Zentiva and its partners are making a difference for nature and future generations. Stay tuned for upcoming episodes. In the meantime, spread the word by sharing this video to educate and empower as many individuals as possible. Additionally, discover how you can join the movement towards sustainability with our Sustainability Podcast. Newsroom

Sustainability in Action

2025-12-17-sustainability-in-action-rewilding-romanias-forests

Rewilding Romania’s Forests

Newsroom News At Zentiva, we provide health and wellbeing for all generations Zentiva Expands into Biologics with the EU-Wide Launch of Its First Biosimilar Launch marks Zentiva’s strategic entry into biosimilars and reinforces its mission to broaden patient access to high-quality biologic medicines across Europe. Newsroom Prague, 1 December, 2025.  Zentiva, a leading European manufacturer of affordable, high-quality medicines, today announced the first EU-wide launch of a monoclonal antibody biosimilar, following approval by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). This milestone marks Zentiva’s entry into the biosimilar segment, further strengthening its position as a trusted healthcare partner dedicated to improving patient access to essential treatments. The new biosimilar is a monoclonal antibody used in the treatment bone conditions.  Zentiva’s biosimilar has been authorised through the EMA’s centralised procedure and will be made available progressively across European markets starting in December.Zentiva’s entry into biosimilars forms part of its broader strategic growth plan to diversify the company’s product offering beyond traditional generics. With biologic medicines representing a growing share of healthcare spending in Europe, biosimilars are key to ensuring healthcare system sustainability and patient access to modern therapies. Downloads Zentiva Expands into Biologics with the EU-Wide Launch of Its First Biosimilar Zentiva Expands into Biologics with the EU-Wide Launch of Its First Biosimilar Zentiva provides health and wellbeing for all generations, with focus on developing, producing, and delivering high-quality, affordable medicines to more than 100 million people in over 30 countries across Europe and beyond. Zentiva has four wholly-owned manufacturing sites and a broad network of external manufacturing partners to ensure supply security. Zentiva employs more than 5,000 unique talents, bonded together by a commitment to the people who depend on our medicines every day.  Visit us at www.zentiva.com  About Zentiva Media contacts: Newsroom

Zentiva Expands into Biologics with the EU-Wide Launch of Its First Biosimilar

2025-12-01-zentiva-expands-into-biologics

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Zentiva Demands EU‑Level Stop‑the‑Clock on the UWWTD to Protect Medicine Availability

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