Ensuring the availability of medicines, monitoring their safety, and supporting the development of new treatment options in Latvia were the State Agency of Medicines (SAM) key priorities in 2025. During the past year, the Agency not only monitored the impact of the medicines pricing reform and patients’ access to medicines, but also authorised new medicines, assessed their safety, facilitated clinical trials, and strengthened cooperation with healthcare partners in Latvia and across Europe.
One of SAM’s main areas of activity in 2025 was the authorisation of new medicines and the monitoring of their safety. During the year, 468 medicines were authorised or renewed, and 44 permits were issued for conducting clinical trials. Overall, 163 clinical trials were ongoing in Latvia in 2025, demonstrating the country’s capacity to provide a favourable environment for the research and development of new therapies.
At the same time, SAM continued to ensure the safety of medicines and medical devices after they had been placed on the market. During the year, the Agency received 436 reports of suspected adverse drug reactions. Post-market surveillance activities were carried out for 180 medical devices distributed in Latvia.
To ensure the high quality of pharmaceutical services, SAM issued or renewed 259 community pharmacy licences, 12 wholesale distribution licences, 20 manufacturing or import authorisations for medicinal products, and four licences for manufacturers of active pharmaceutical ingredients in 2025.
Significant efforts were also devoted to medicines quality control. The Agency’s Official Medicines Control Laboratory performed analyses of 40 medicinal product samples. At the request of pharmacies, it prepared 180 volumetric solutions, indicators and reagents, and selected and tested 62 samples of purified water collected from pharmacies, thereby supporting pharmaceutical care services.
"In 2025, we successfully addressed cybersecurity challenges, actively contributed to the development of new European legislation, participated in the establishment of the European list of critical medicines, and strengthened cooperation with our partners in Latvia and across Europe, as well as with patient organisations, the pharmaceutical sector and the public. We communicated openly about complex issues, built mutual trust, and demonstrated that clear communication is just as important as professional decision-making," emphasises Indra Dreika, Director of the State Agency of Medicines.
The year 2025 was also significant for SAM’s organisational development. The Agency played an active role in implementing the medicines pricing reform and monitoring its impact, while continuing to expand its digital services. These efforts complemented SAM’s core mission of ensuring that patients in Latvia have access to safe and effective medicines, medical devices, and human-derived biological materials.
More information about the State Agency of Medicines’ achievements in 2025 is available in the Agency’s 2025 Annual Public Report.
