Germany warned over price curbs on drugs

Berlin

BAYER AG, Roche Holding AG and other drugmakers are warning that a German government proposal to tighten price controls on prescription drugs could end up restricting access to new medicines in Europe's biggest healthcare market.

The proposal "lacks a fair balance between measures to foster innovation and cost-containment", said Dieter Weinand, pharmaceuticals chief at Bayer. "Incremental innovation is not recognised and rewarded adequately."