R&D spending on pharmaceutical activity carried out in the EU rose an estimated 2.1% to €30 billion ($38.6 billion) in 2012, according to data obtained from a questionnaire sent to European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) members earlier this year. In 2011, by country, pharmaceutical R&D spending in the UK was the highest at €5,588 million, followed by Germany, Switzerland and France, for which spending totaled €5,318 million, €4,972 million and €4,787 million, respectively. EU pharmaceutical production grew 2.8% to €210 billion last year. In 2011, pharmaceutical production in Switzerland was the highest among EU countries at €32,380 million. Pharmaceutical production in Germany, Italy and the UK totaled €26,935 million, €25,137 million and €20,206 million, respectively. In 2012, the EU pharmaceutical industry employed an estimated 116 billion people in R&D, which accounted for 17% of all pharmaceutical employees. The EFPIA estimated that 55 new chemical or biological entities were introduced in Europe in 2012, an increase of 14.6%.

Source: EFPIA