Nanomedicines in the European translational process

In 2013, the World Health Organisation (WHO) released an update of the report on "Priority Medicines for Europe and the World" with the aim to bridge the gap between public health needs and the current research and development priorities. A number of emerging technologies are currently explored for their potential to respond to the identified unmet medical needs. Nanotechnology has the potential to offer scientific/technical solutions for some of these pharmaceutical gaps. The present report investigates to what extent projects funded by the European Commission will lead to innovative formulations as well as new therapeutic concepts, if clinical studies in European Member States investigating nanomedicines and finally if nanotech based products authorised in the European Union will contribute to identified public health needs.