Focus on Regulation and Medical Innovation – Members of the State Parliament visit the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut

Focus on Regulation and Medical Innovation - Members of the State Parliament visit the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut

Source: Paul-Ehrlich-Institut

On 5 August 2026, a delegation from the Bündnis 90/Die Grünen parliamentary group in the Hessian state parliament visited the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Federal Institute for Vaccines and Biomedicines. The fact-finding visit, a stop on the parliamentary group's "Pharmatour", focused on the scientifically sound evaluation, authorisation, and monitoring of these medicinal products, as well as the Institute's role in promoting medical innovation.

President Professor Stefan Vieths and Vice President Professor Zoe Waibler, together with experts from the Institute, explained how the regulatory tasks and scientific expertise of the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut contribute to ensuring the quality, efficacy, and safety of both innovative and established medicinal products. Topics included the opportunities and challenges of advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) such as CAR T-cell medicinal products, monoclonal antibodies as a component of modern precision medicine, and the role of scientific advice and regulatory support in medicinal product development.

During a lab visit, the guests also gained insights into the official batch testing of vaccines using the example of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine Comirnaty. This example illustrated the interaction between research and regulatory tasks at the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut.

ATMPs such as CAR T-cell medicinal products open up new treatment options, in particular for serious and previously inadequately treated diseases. Monoclonal antibodies enable targeted therapies, while mRNA technology has already been successfully used in vaccines against infectious diseases and also offers prospects for the future of cancer therapy. Such developments in the field of medicine place high demands on regulatory authorities. The Paul-Ehrlich-Institut supports these developments together with national and international partners on the basis of scientific excellence, transparent decisions, and with the goal of protecting public health.