Picture this.

A world where breakthrough therapies don’t wait. They reach patients fast. Everyone who could benefit gets access, no exceptions. Lives are transformed. People stay healthier for longer, productivity rises, and healthcare systems run smarter. Budgets don’t break; they evolve, making room for lasting value and the next wave of innovation.

Belgium can make this happen. We have the talent, the science and the partnerships. We have already shown that we can bring Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs) to patients. But leadership in ATMPs cannot be a one-off success.

If we want Belgium to lead the next era of medical progress, we can’t stand still. Every step counts, from discovery to delivery to the patient. Securing and sustaining access to innovative ATMPs for Belgian patients must remain a priority. Let’s create the conditions where innovation moves at the speed of need. Because when we do, we don’t just change healthcare – we can change lives.

The Reality

• Access to ATMPs is not evident. According to an analysis between 2009 and 2024, 27 ATMPs received market approval in the EU. Of those, 7 had been withdrawn from the European market¹ and at the time of the finalization of our white paper (October 2025) 9 of those were commercially available and reimbursed for Belgian patients.^2,3
• ATMPs are often viewed as a high budget burden, assessed in the short term, even though their benefits only fully materialize over the long term and should be valued accordingly. This perception increases pressure on healthcare budgets and can unintentionally raise access risks, not only for advanced therapies, but for the broader portfolio of innovation.
• Clinical trial start-up times in Belgium are hampering our competitive position: Belgium is no longer considered as first country of choice by default.^4,5
• Investments in research and development are declining, driven by complex regulatory burdens and slow and uncertain permitting procedures.⁶

They are signals that the system must continue to evolve to fully capture the long-term value ATMPs can deliver: durable outcomes for patients, reduced downstream healthcare & societal costs, and a stronger, more resilient life sciences ecosystem.

Every barrier means fewer options for patients, and fewer options for Belgium to lead.

Three Barriers. One Sustainable Journey.

Supply chain. Regulatory requirements. Accessibility.
These are not separate challenges, they are one journey: How do we get therapies from plant to patient, faster and more effectively?

What We Expect From You

This is not a debate about whether ATMPs belong in Belgium, they already do.

It is an invitation to work together to ensure that access to ATMPs becomes structurally embedded in how our healthcare system operates. We invite policymakers, healthcare professionals, and industry leaders to reflect on our white paper, challenge assumptions, and help shape solutions that balance innovation and long-term value.
Your perspective matters. Through collaboration, Belgium can set the standard for how advanced therapies are responsibly and sustainably integrated into healthcare systems.

The Goal

To spark collaboration across silos and turn insights into action, so that Belgium remains Europe’s powerhouse for ATMPs and patients get timely access to innovation.

Our new white paper, “From Plant to Patient – Policy recommendations to support a thriving ecosystem for ATMPs in Belgium”, captures practical steps to make this happen.

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References:

1. https://www.kce.fgov.be/sites/default/files/2025-01/KCE_396_Development_ATMPS_Belgium_Report.pdf
2. liste_specialites_chapter4part1_20251001.pdf
3. liste_specialites_chapter4part2_20251001.pdf
4. https://pharma.be/sites/default/files/2025-01/belgium-as-a-clinical-trial-location-in-europe-report-2023-publication-website-vf-sent.pdf
5. https://efpia.eu/media/3edpooqp/assessing-the-clinical-trial-ecosystem-in-europe.pdf
6. Deloitte: Realising the potential of Belgium’s exceptional advanced therapy ecosystem (2024). Available https://www.deloitte.com/content/dam/assets-zone2/be/en/docs/services/consulting/2024/be-advanced-therapies.pdf

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