Held at the Commercial Counselor’s Residence, the event brought together senior government officials, healthcare leaders, clinical experts, and diplomatic representatives for a strategic dialogue on innovation, access, and long-term collaboration.
BMS says the event underscores its reinforced presence in Hungary, translating a three-decade legacy into accelerated and expanded clinical research activity, which has doubled since 2021.
In his keynote address, Christophe Durand, BMS vice president for Switzerland, Austria and Central and Eastern Europe, emphasized the company’s long-term scientific and clinical investments in the region.
“Our commitment to Hungary extends beyond medicines; it includes investment in research, education, and collaboration with local institutions,” he said. “We are here to create long-term value for patients, the healthcare system, and the scientific community.”
The forum reflected BMS’s broader ambition to serve as a trusted, long-term partner to the Hungarian healthcare ecosystem, not only through its medicines but also through its contributions to shaping meaningful progress in research infrastructure, institutional cooperation, and patient access.
“Fostering long-term partnerships between American companies and the local healthcare community is essential. Through strategic dialogue and shared expertise, we help lay the groundwork for impactful, sustainable innovation, and that begins with connecting the right people around the same table,” said Neil Pickett, Commercial Counselor of the U.S. Embassy in Budapest.
BMS currently has more than 50 ongoing clinical studies across 160 sites, involving more than 350 patients. The company’s research activities span oncology, neuroscience, immunology, and cardiovascular fields, reflecting its diversified, innovation-driven pipeline and portfolio.
With a variety of guests, including representatives from the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry for National Economy, the National Health Insurance Fund (NEAK), the Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency and leading clinical institutions, the forum focused on how shared efforts have advanced therapeutic access and public health outcomes in Hungary.
Opening remarks were delivered by Pickett and Massimiliano Magnelli, general manager of BMS Hungary. The program included contributions from U.S. Embassy officials, as well as Dr. Tamás Dávid, deputy director general for reimbursement at NEAK; Róbert Láng, Ministerial Commissioner for the Health Industry and Health Tourism at the Ministry for National Economy; and acknowledged medical experts: Prof. Magdolna Dank, director general of the National Oncology Institute; Prof. Béla Merkely, rector of Semmelweis University; Prof. Árpád Illés, head of Hematology at the University of Debrecen; and Prof. Norbert Miklós Wikonkál, director general of the North Pest Center Hospital – Honvédkórház.
This article was first published in the Budapest Business Journal print issue of June 27, 2025.
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