At its meeting on 13 March, the Management Board of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) elected Rui Santos Ivo as the new chair for a three-year term, marking a significant leadership transition within the agency.
Rui Santos Ivo succeeds Lorraine Nolan, the Chief Executive of the Irish Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), who has held the position of chair since March 2022 and will complete her term on 21 March 2025. Nolan has been instrumental in guiding the Board through various pivotal decisions during her tenure.
Mr. Santos Ivo is the president of the Portuguese National Authority of Medicines and Healthcare Products (Infarmed), where he oversees the regulatory framework ensuring the safety and efficacy of medicines and healthcare products in Portugal. In addition to his role at Infarmed, he is also an associate professor at the University of Lisbon’s Faculty of Pharmacy, where he teaches and conducts research on medicines regulation.
He has a robust academic background, holding a post-graduate degree in health management, health law, and pharmaceutical legislation from the University of Lisbon, thus blending practical regulatory experience with scholarly insights.
Since joining EMA’s Management Board in 2016, Mr. Santos Ivo has contributed significantly to the agency’s objectives, particularly in his capacity as vice-chair since October 2024. His extensive experience in both regulatory affairs and academia positions him well to lead the Board in navigating the complex landscape of pharmaceutical regulation in Europe.
The appointment of Mr. Santos Ivo is expected to reinforce EMA’s commitment to ensuring public health and safety through robust medicine regulation and oversight.
