Italian Pharmaceutical Industry: a strategic asset to protect
With around 200 companies, more than 130 manufacturing sites, €74 billion in production in 2025, and over 72,000 direct employees, the sector stands out for its high productivity, strong employment growth, and a significant share of highly skilled workers
The pharmaceutical industry continues to be a European leader and an indispensable strategic asset for the Italian economy. This is the key finding of an analysis presented at Farmindustria’s General Assembly at the end of June.
Italy is home to approximately 200 active pharmaceutical companies and more than 130 production facilities. In 2025, the sector’s production value reached €74 billion, with productivity 11% higher than the average of the pharmaceutical industries in the major EU countries.
The sector employs 72,200 people directly, of whom 90% hold a university degree or high school diploma. Women account for 45% of the workforce, compared with an industrial average of 29%. Including the direct supply chain and related activities, total employment rises to 316,000. Compared with 2019, employment has grown by 10% (versus a national average of +5%), while the number of workers under 35 has increased by 25%.
Exports reached €69.2 billion in 2025, up 28.5% from 2024. Over the past decade, exports have grown by 248%, compared with an EU average increase of 148%, generating a trade surplus of €11.4 billion. Pharmaceuticals accounted for 11.3% of Italy’s manufacturing exports in 2025, up from 4% in 2005, and represented 75% of the country’s export growth in 2025. In the first four months of 2026, the sector contributed 42% of Italy’s overall trade surplus and 67% of its growth compared with 2025, ranking as the leading export sector in Central and Southern Italy.
In 2025, investments in Italy totaled €4.4 billion, including €1.9 billion for high-tech production facilities and €2.5 billion for research and development activities. More than €800 million was allocated to clinical research conducted in Italian hospitals, generating tangible benefits for patients through faster access to innovative therapies.
Patent applications have increased by an average of 26% over the past five years, compared with 10% in the major EU economies. Italy also ranks first in Open Innovation, with an investment-per-employee ratio 14 times higher than the manufacturing average.
The geography of innovation is shifting
These achievements must be viewed within a rapidly changing global landscape. According to data presented by Farmindustria, the share of clinical trials conducted by U.S. companies declined from 39% in 2014 to 35% in 2025, while Europe’s share fell from 34% to 20%. In contrast, China’s share rose dramatically from 6% to 32%. A similar trend is evident in drug discovery: the annual average number of new drugs discovered in China increased from 20 during 2021-2023 to 46 in 2025, while Europe’s figure fell from 18 to 16 over the same period. The United States remained relatively stable at around 28-29 new drugs per year.
The impact of U.S. policies
U.S. policies based on the “Most Favoured Nation” (MFN) principle, aimed at rebalancing global research funding, are accelerating this transformation. Pharmaceutical companies have already announced more than $400 billion in investments in the United States over the next five years, while an estimated $100 billion could be diverted away from Europe’s future development.
In this context, Italy also faces a major challenge. Between 2027 and 2032, global investments in research and development are expected to reach $2.1 trillion. Italy will need to attract a significant share of this growth through policies capable of enhancing its scientific excellence, innovative capacity, and industrial strengths.
