European Medicines Agency launches strategy on medicines for older people

The European Medicines Agency will ensure that the needs of the ageing population in the European Union are taken into account in the development and evaluation of new medicines, according to its geriatric medicines strategy , published today.

The strategy sets out the Agency's vision for the development of medicines for the elderly by building on its existing activities. In particular, the Agency aims to:

• ensure that the medicines used by older people are of high quality and are studied appropriately in the older population, both before and after authorisation;
• improve the availability of information for older people on the use of medicines.

The strategy was adopted by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) on 18 February 2011. It represents a key step forward in the Agency's commitment towards responding to its changing environment, as set out in its 'Road map to 2015'.