Shaping EU medicines regulation in the post COVID-19 era

The EU Medicines Regulatory Network (EMRN), comprised of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the medicines regulatory authorities of the Member States and the European Commission (EC), is operating amid a complex crisis that has positioned regulators centre stage due to their key role in the development, approval and safety monitoring of vaccines and treatments for COVID-19. Here we consider the EMA's and EMRN's response to the pandemic and some of the early learnings that will help reshape medicines regulation in the post COVID-19 era. We also reflect on how some of these learnings will be formally followed up under revised EU legislation to extend EMA's mandate, reinforcing its role in crisis preparedness and response.