Spending on generic drugs in the European Union is expected to rise by nearly 50% by US$12bn from US$26bn to US$ by 2018. That is according to projections from GBI Research. This will be due to a combination of blockbuster branded drugs coming off patent during the “patent cliff” period as well as a search for greater efficiency in light of the Government austerity requirements. Germany’s reimbursement policy has been criticised as stifling the availability of new branded drugs, whilst uncertainty and concern remains over the UK’s value-based pricing, which is set to be introduced in the next two years.