Jc Milhet / Hans Lucas / AFP via Getty Images

ByEd Silverman

Sept. 11, 2026

Pharmalot Columnist, Senior Writer

Ed Silverman

[email protected]

Ed’s stories explore prescription drug pricing, affordability and access, as well issues surrounding patents, litigation, and legislation. He is also the author of the morningPharmalittle newsletterand the afternoonPharmalot newsletter.

In a boost for the pharmaceutical industry, a European Union Advocate Generalrecommendedannulling part of a directive that requires drug and cosmetics manufacturers to finance at least 80% of the costs of wastewater treatment.

Thedirective, which revised an earlier version and went into effect early last year, was designed to protect human health and the environment from harmful discharges of urban wastewater and ensure cleaner rivers, lakes, groundwater, and coasts across Europe. The effort was projected to save about $7.5 billion annually by 2040.

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A key portion of the initiative is a “quaternary treatment stage” that involves removing micropollutants — which are mostly created by pharmaceuticals and cosmetics — from wastewater. Member states must ensure that companies contribute to programs to deal with the waste they generate by December 2028.

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  1. Ed Silverman

    Pharmalot Columnist, Senior Writer

    Ed’s stories explore prescription drug pricing, affordability and access, as well issues surrounding patents, litigation, and legislation. He is also the author of the morningPharmalittle newsletterand the afternoonPharmalot newsletter.

STAT+ Newsletter

Pharmalot columnist Ed Silverman rounds up the most important news of the day in the global drug industry