Effective January 1, 2026, Markus Sieger  will step down as CEO of the Group , after a decade of dedicated service. He will continue to support the strategic development of the Group as a member of the Supervisory Board, in line with the succession plan agreed upon at the start of his tenure.

Under Markus Sieger’s leadership, Polpharma Group has achieved significant growth – both financially and in its mission to build a purpose-driven organization: “We help people live healthy lives in a healthy world.” The company has become a trusted partner to healthcare systems across Europe and Central Asia, delivering high-quality, affordable medicines to millions of patients.

Jerzy Starak, owner of Polpharma Group, expressed his appreciation:
“On behalf of the entire Polpharma community, I extend my heartfelt thanks to Markus for his outstanding commitment and vision over the past ten years. His leadership was instrumental in navigating the company through a dynamic and challenging landscape, strengthening our values, and setting a strategic course for the future. I am pleased that Markus will continue to be part of our team  as a member of the Supervisory Board.”

At the same time, Polpharma Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Sebastian Szymanek as its new CEO, effective January 1, 2026. Sebastian currently serves as the President of the Management Board of Zakłady Farmaceutyczne Polpharma S.A. in Poland.

With nearly 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Sebastian brings a deep understanding of both generic and innovative sectors. He joined Polpharma in 2007 and has held several key leadership roles within the commercial division. In 2014, he became the General Manager for Poland, and from 2017 to March 2021, he served as President of the Management Board of Polpharma Biuro Handlowe. Since September 2021, he has led Zakłady Farmaceutyczne Polpharma S.A. as President of the Management Board.

Throughout his 18-year tenure at Polpharma, Sebastian has played a pivotal role in transforming the company into a dynamic market leader. His contributions span strategic project execution, cross-functional team leadership, and strengthening the company’s market position both domestically and internationally.

Nick Haggar, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Polpharma Group, commented:
“I am confident that Sebastian is the right person to lead Polpharma Group into its next chapter. His deep knowledge of the organization, proven leadership capabilities, operational focus, and unwavering commitment to our mission make him the ideal choice to guide the Group’s continued growth and innovation.”

For media inquiries, please contact:

Beata Zduńczyk-Golędzinowska

Head of Corporate Communications

rzecznik@polpharma.com

About the Polpharma Group:

The Polpharma Group is a leading regional manufacturer of pharmaceuticals. It is active in the markets of Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia. For over 90 years, it has enjoyed the trust of patients, healthcare professionals, and business partners, offering modern medicines, active substances, and innovative solutions to patients and business partners around the world. Every year, Polpharma Group factories produce 400 million packages of medicines, which are sold directly or through a network of partners in over 40 countries around the world. The Polpharma Group comprises : Zakłady Farmaceutyczne Polpharma S.A. in Poland, Zakłady Farmaceutyczne Santo in Kazakhstan, and companies Farmaprojects in Spain, 089Farm in Germany, and Swiss Pharma International in Switzerland. The Group employs 5,600 people.

He emphasized the urgent need to secure the economic sustainability of off-patent medicines – a cornerstone for access and competitiveness in Europe. With major changes underway in EU pharmaceutical policy, he called for decisive action on:

• Ensuring timely market entry post-exclusivity through the #EUPharma review
• Supporting sustainable pricing and reimbursement reforms
• Implementing the #CriticalMedicinesAct with reduced bureaucracy and stronger EU solidarity
• Addressing environmental and regulatory burdens under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive

His message was clear: it’s time to push for health policies that truly value off-patent innovation.

Markus’ previous experience in Medicines for Europe spans the range of priority topics for our sector, including the EU pharmaceutical legislation, Critical Medicines Act, the industry response to both the war in Ukraine and the global pandemic, as well as ongoing regulatory and digital improvements in health.

Markus outlined the following policy priorities which will shape his mandate:

1. Facilitate sustainable market policies that recognise the full value of the off-patent medicines sector in delivering access.
2. Support and encourage a vibrant off-patent medicines manufacturing sector in Europe.
3. Build a strong environmental, social and governance agenda for medicines with patient access at its core. Of particular concern is the EU Urban Waste Water treatment directive, which threatens the viability of inexpensive yet essential medicines.

Beginning his term as President ad interim, Markus Sieger said: “I am honoured to be taking the role of President ad interim at Medicines for Europe at a crucial time for health policy. My focus will be on helping our industry progress, deliver on our value and vision of helping patients in Europe, securing supply of medicines in Europe and leading the digital and green transformation, with a strong policy framework that is fit for the future. I want to ensure that our companies benefit from opportunities to invest into Europe, meaning bringing new products, new capabilities, development projects or industrial assets. I look forward to working with our health partners in the EU institutions, the health community and the Medicines for Europe members to continue to make our voice heard on key policy issues and deliver the best care for patients in Europe.”

About Markus Sieger, CEO of Polpharma, President Ad Interim at Medicines for Europe

Since 2016, Markus Sieger is the CEO of Polpharma Group, a large regional pharmaceutical group with market leading positions in the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region with market leading positions in several markets there and in Central Asia. In 2018 he joined the Executive Committee of Medicines for Europe, and appointed Vice President of the association in 2022. He has been active in emerging markets and industries for over 30 years. During this time, he has focused on building and developing companies in the pharmaceutical, media, fast-moving consumer goods and real estate industries, by managing complex and strategic transactions in the USA, CEE, CIS and Singapore. He has been a member of supervisory boards of private and public companies and is currently  a board member of Rafael Holdings (NYSE:RFL). He is an alumnus of Stanford University Graduate School of Business. In 2025, he was nominated President Ad Interim at Medicines for Europe.

Medicines for Europe

Medicines for Europe represents the generic, biosimilar and value-added medicines industries across Europe. Its vision is to provide sustainable access to high quality medicines, based on 5 important pillars: patients, quality, value, sustainability and partnership. Its members directly employ 190,000 people at over 400 manufacturing and 126 R&D sites in Europe and invest up to 17% of their turnover in R&D investment. Medicines for Europe member companies across Europe are both increasing access to medicines and driving improved health outcomes. They play a key role in creating sustainable European healthcare systems by continuing to provide high quality, effective generic medicines, whilst also innovating to create new biosimilar medicines and bringing to market value added medicines, which deliver better health outcomes, greater efficiency and/or improved safety in the hospital setting for patients. For more information, please follow us at www.medicinesforeurope.com and on LinkedIn and X @medicinesforEU. 

Polpharma Group, a leading European pharmaceutical manufacturer, has joined fellow members of Medicines for Europe in signing an open letter addressed to the Prime Ministers and Ministers of Health of all 27 EU Member States. The letter calls for urgent political action to adopt a targeted Pharmaceutical Action Plan that will protect patient access to medicines and support a competitive, sustainable pharmaceutical industry in Europe.

The letter, signed by CEOs and senior executives from across the European off-patent medicines sector, focuses on the need to:

1. Accelerate the adoption of the EU pharmaceutical legislation, with a strong emphasis on:
2. Maintaining the current 11-year regulatory exclusivity period to avoid unnecessary healthcare costs.
3. Strengthening and harmonizing the Bolar exemption, enabling generic and biosimilar medicines to enter the market immediately after patent expiry, ensuring faster access for patients and savings for healthcare systems.
   
   

The threat of U.S. tariffs should not justify extending Europe’s intellectual property (IP) protection, which is already the most generous in the world. Any IP extensions would strain public health budgets and fail to prevent production shifts abroad, as already announced by several originator companies. The letter also stresses that EU countries spent €20 billion on just 5 top medicines in 2024. The simulation, based on the originator extension claims (13 to 18 years), for only 15 molecules shows that the costs for healthcare budgets would be between €20 billion and €100 billion.

• Avoid harmful legislative overlaps, such as those in the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (UWWTD), which—if not amended—could unintentionally disrupt medicine supply and increase costs for patients.
    

For example, in the Netherlands alone, the cost of diabetes medicine metformin is expected to increase by up to 875%, and the antibiotic amoxicillin up to 400%.

• Support critical medicines production, through initiatives like the Critical Medicines Act (CMA), which should be aligned with industrial and health security goals.

98% of on-patent investment is going to the US, while only 1% is going to the EU.

Markus Sieger, CEO of Polpharma Group, commented:
“Europe must act now to protect its patients and its pharmaceutical sovereignty. The off-patent industry is investing in Europe, but we also need a stable, competitive, and innovation-friendly environment to continue doing so. The 5-Point Action Plan is a pragmatic and urgent roadmap to ensure that essential medicines remain accessible, affordable, and manufactured in Europe.”

Polpharma Group remains committed to working with EU institutions and national governments to build a resilient, sustainable, and patient-focused pharmaceutical ecosystem in Europe.

Polpharma Group, a leading pharmaceutical company, urges the European Union to take decisive action to conclude the pharmaceutical reform and strengthen Europe’s capacity to produce essential medicines. We advocate for early access to generics to optimize health payer budgets and enable treatments for more patients. In the face of unprecedented geopolitical uncertainty, it is crucial to place public health at the center of all political decisions.

Commitment to Health Security

Public health is a fundamental right. As EU Health Ministries approach the final stages of negotiations on the future of Europe’s pharmaceutical rules, Polpharma Group emphasizes the need to ensure that every European has access to the medicines they need. This is about avoiding shortages, bringing production back to Europe, and making our health systems more resilient and fair.

Key Recommendations

1. Reduced Periods of Exclusivities = increases healthy Competition

On-patent pharmaceutical companies are pushing for extended exclusivities in Europe as part of the late-stage revision of the EU pharma legislation. This move, spurred by the threat of tariffs, aims to stifle competition from the off-patent medicines industry. The EU already has the longest exclusivity period in the world, and extending it further would only hinder competition and delay access to affordable medicines.

2. Timely Access = Savings to Healthcare Systems

The needs of patients are growing faster than health systems can manage. Extending exclusivities would exacerbate this issue, as health systems in Europe are already struggling with exponential medical care costs. Innovation is happening globally, and what drives access to medicines – it is competition among equivalent medicines after patent expiry, not extended exclusivities. Early entry of off-patent medicines has been proven to save costs for health payers, with significant price reductions observed upon entry from minus 25 up to 75% upon first and multiple entrants.

3. Investment in EU Manufacturing = Security of Supply

Off-patent medicines bring access, competition, and effective savings. It is crucial to ensure these medicines are manufactured in Europe at proximity of patients. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the fragility of supply chains, and shorter exclusivities would allow faster sourcing of generics, thus improving medicines security. Recently proposed by EU Commission Critical Medicines Act (CMA) is designed to address this issue. As Polpharma Group large European based manufacturer we strongly advocate to make this act equipped with strong “toolbox” to invest in the European pharmaceutical sector.

Polish Presidency’s Aspiration to Close Pharmaceutical Directive position in the Council

The Polish Presidency has been highly ambitious in working towards the alignment of member states position on Pharmaceutical Directive. It is in view of securing early access to medicines for more patients thus increasing the medicines security for Europe. As Polpharma Group we strongly support this ambition. Time is of the essence.

Polish Presidency has set ambitious goals for the safety of European citizens, encompassing not only military, food, and hybrid attack protection but also medicines security. During the Polish Presidency, Critical Medicines Act (CMA) has been presented by Health Commissioner Varhelyi and as significant actions have been taken in the European Parliament to advance legislative process under the SANT Committee leadership. It is critically important to secure dedicated funds for investments under the CMA in the Multiannual Financing Framework for 2027-2032.

Financial Impact of Extended Exclusivities

Extending exclusivities could cost health systems up to €20 billion extra per year. In contrast, generic medicines, which account for 70% of those dispensed in Europe, have saved health systems over €100 billion. Biosimilar medicines have generated €56 billion in savings since 2006. The EU’s system of data exclusivity of 11 years means generics wait up to 11 years to enter the market, compared to just 5 years in the U.S., providing faster access to savings for health payers.

Struggling Health Systems

Off-patent medicines are a crucial lever to support these systems. Early entry of generics has been proven to save costs, with significant price reductions observed upon generic entry. The current IP framework in Europe is delivering on innovation, and there is no evidence that extending exclusivities would drive further innovation.

Polpharma Group Call to Action

Polpharma Group calls on the EU to resist attempts to derail the review of pharmaceutical legislation and back competition for the benefit of patients.

Ensure timely entry of generics to strengthen competition, improve access to medicines, and alleviate the impact on health budgets. A reduction of data exclusivity periods from 8 to 6 years could save up to EUR 10 Bn per year.

A unified Bolar clause to ensure Day 1 entry is essential and would increase access to medicines in Eastern European countries.

Support the CMA to strengthen supply chain resilience and facilitate investment into Europe.

Advocate for a US-EU deal to ensure the free movement of pharmaceuticals, benefiting patients.

Polpharma Group calls on the EU to resist attempts to derail the review of pharmaceutical legislation and back competition for the benefit of patients.

The current review of the Pharmaceutical Directive can rebalance exclusivities, increase competition, and ensure timely access to medicines. It’s time for Europe to take responsibility, finalize the pharmaceutical reform, empower the Critical Medicines Act, and protect patients.

Quote from Markus Sieger, CEO of Polpharma Group:

“In these challenging times, it is imperative that we place public health benefit at the forefront of our political decisions. The Pharmaceutical Directive revision and the Critical Medicines Act are crucial steps towards ensuring that every European has access to the medicines they need and when they need. At Polpharma Group, we are committed to supporting these legal initiative and we are advocating to enhance competition, drive all incremental innovation, and secure the supply of essential medicines for all. The active role of the Polish Presidency in promoting the security and early access to medicines highlights our dedication to the safety and well-being of European citizens.”

About Polpharma Group

Polpharma Group is a leading off-patent pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving health and quality of life. With a strong commitment to innovation and sustainability, Polpharma Group continues to drive advancements in the portfolio of essential medicines we offer to patients in Europe and globally.

Commitment to Health Security

We strongly believe, that public health is a fundamental right. As EU Health Ministries approach the final stages of negotiations on the future of Europe’s pharmaceutical rules, Polpharma Group emphasizes the need to ensure that every European has access to the medicines they need. This is about avoiding shortages, bringing production back to Europe, and making our health systems more resilient and fair.

Key Recommendations

1. Reduced Periods of Exclusivities: On-patent pharmaceutical companies are pushing for extended exclusivities in Europe, which would hinder competition and delay access to affordable medicines.
2. Timely Access: Early entry of off-patent medicines has been proven to save costs for health payers, with significant price reductions observed.
3. Investment in EU Manufacturing: Ensuring medicines are manufactured in Europe to improve supply chain resilience.

We call the EU to resist attempts to derail the review of pharmaceutical legislation and back competition for the benefit of patients. It’s time for Europe to take responsibility, finalize the pharmaceutical reform, empower the Critical Medicines Act, and protect patients.