Europe’s Drug Delivery Makeover Is Already Underway!

New delivery platforms are reshaping European care, enabling simpler dosing, outpatient treatment, and earlier formulation planning

26 Dec 2025

A gradual shift in drug formulation is changing how medicines are delivered across Europe, as healthcare systems look to reduce pressure on hospitals and expand outpatient and home-based treatment. Therapies that once required lengthy intravenous infusions are increasingly being redesigned for injection under the skin, reflecting advances in drug delivery platforms rather than changes to the drugs themselves.

The trend is global, but its effects are particularly relevant in Europe, where ageing populations and staff shortages have sharpened the focus on efficiency and patient convenience. European health systems have been seeking ways to shorten hospital visits and move care closer to the home, especially for chronic and long-term conditions.

Recent licensing activity around Halozyme’s ENHANZE delivery platform has drawn attention to this development. Although Skye Bioscience’s agreement to license the technology was signed outside Europe, it illustrates a wider industry move that aligns closely with European care priorities. Drug developers are increasingly treating formulation as a strategic choice early in development.

ENHANZE works by enhancing the spread and absorption of medicines delivered through subcutaneous injection. This allows larger volumes or higher concentrations of certain biologic drugs to be administered under the skin, creating alternatives to intravenous delivery. For patients, this can mean shorter clinic visits or treatment outside hospital settings. For providers, it can help ease capacity constraints.

The relevance to Europe is already evident. The European Commission has approved subcutaneous formulations enabled by ENHANZE, including Janssen’s RYBREVANT used in combination regimens. Such approvals suggest that these approaches can meet regulatory standards while supporting more flexible care pathways.

For developers, the appeal lies in predictability. Using an established delivery platform across several products can reduce technical risk and shorten development timelines, a consideration for biotech groups facing tight funding conditions and competitive pipelines.

Not all therapies are suitable for reformulation, and licensing platform technologies adds cost and complexity. Still, interest continues to grow as companies balance these challenges against potential gains in efficiency and patient experience.

As Europe continues to shift towards more decentralised models of care, formulation platforms are likely to play a larger role. Innovation, for many developers and health systems, is increasingly defined by how medicines are delivered as much as by the medicines themselves.