Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is contributing to global efforts to save lives during the COVID-19 pandemic by expediting the development and approval of safe and effective treatments and vaccines, supporting the continued availability of medicines in the European Union (EU), and providing reliable information to patients and healthcare professionals.
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus.
On 30 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. On 11 March 2020, WHO characterised COVID-19 as a pandemic.
EMA aims to expedite the development of effective medicines and vaccines to fight and prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The Agency also aims to ensure that the assessment and monitoring of medicines are not disrupted so that patients in Europe continue to have access to high quality, safe and effective medicines for all their health needs during the pandemic.
The COVID-19 EMA pandemic Task Force is at the centre of the efforts to enable EMA, the European medicines regulatory network and the European Commission to take quick and coordinated regulatory action during the pandemic across all EU Member States.
EMA is continuously reviewing and adapting its measures as necessary.
Our latest updates on the COVID-19 pandemic, including our news and press releases | Treatments and vaccines for COVID-19 Information on authorised medicines, medicines under evaluation or investigation and COVID-19 vaccines |
Guidance for medicine developers and other stakeholders on COVID-19 Regulatory mechanisms to speed up medicine and vaccine development and approval and advice on clinical trials and regulatory expectations | Availability of medicines during COVID-19 pandemic EU measures to help prevent and mitigate supply disruptions and medicine shortages during the pandemic |
Public-health advice during COVID-19 pandemic Advice for patients and healthcare professionals on the safe use of medicines during the pandemic, in particular in patients with or at risk of COVID-19 infection | EMA’s governance during COVID-19 pandemic Our governance during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the role and activities of the COVID-19 EMA Pandemic Task Force |
Information on COVID-19 treatments and vaccines is available from EU / European Economic Area (EEA) Member States in their national languages. For a full list of COVID-19 resources from across Europe, see: