Clifford Chance was one of the proud sponsors of the HETHICO Conference 2025 in Brussels, an event organised by EFPIA, MedTech Europe, and ETHICS. In this blog, our team reflects on how clients in the sector address new regulatory and ethical challenges.

Members of our Global Healthcare & Life Sciences team from Brussels, Paris and Düsseldorf attended the HETHICO Conference 2025 and engaged with industry leaders in looking forward discussions regarding compliance and regulatory trends, artificial intelligence (AI), and sustainability shaping the future of healthcare and life sciences.

Our team members exchanged with expert speakers, legal counsels, and compliance officers from across the MedTech and pharmaceutical sectors. The conference provided a valuable forum for exchanging perspectives on the evolving challenges and opportunities shaping our industries.

Key themes and discussions

The conference fostered open dialogue through a series of panel discussions and “Ask the Expert” sessions, addressing some of the most pressing topics for the sector:

Global compliance trends and case studies

Participants explored how international organisations are adapting to the increasingly complex regulatory landscape in 2025. A recurring theme was the proliferation of competing (and at times contradictory) domestic regulations, as well as the impact of international sanctions and tariffs. The role of AI in compliance was hotly debated, with discussions focusing on both its practical significance for compliance teams and the rapid pace of regulatory developments across jurisdictions. The sessions also highlighted the growing collaboration between MedTech Europe and EFPIA, underscoring the shared challenges and opportunities for the pharmaceutical and MedTech sectors.

Ensuring trustworthy AI in pharma and MedTech

At the centre of discussions around AI were the ethical and regulatory considerations surrounding the deployment of AI technologies in the healthcare sector. Use cases presented by Medtronic and UCB illustrated AI’s potential to enhance research and development processes (e.g., by simplifying literature review, and at the same time increasing speed and volumes of assessable data originating from a wide range of different data holders). The discussions emphasised the importance of embedding ethics by design and maintaining a patient centric approach as the evolution of AI is ever  accelerating.

ESG and sustainability

A dedicated panel explored the increasing legal risks and opportunities associated with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors and sustainability in healthcare. The conversation addressed how businesses can navigate evolving regulatory requirements while pursuing responsible growth. Despite the current focus on global competitiveness and national security, ESG and sustainability remain critical priorities for the sector. Of note, this panel was moderated by our partner Thomas Voland, who was joined by Torsten Syrbe, co-chair of our Global Healthcare & Life Sciences Practice, as well as other sustainability specialists.

Cross-border compliance challenges

Roundtable sessions brought together compliance officers and legal counsels to discuss practical cross-border scenarios. These discussions provided an opportunity to explore and compare global trends, including tariffs, the shifting influence of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), the EU’s ongoing efforts to harmonise compliance rules, and China’s introduction of new regulations with significant implications for the pharmaceutical industry. Participants discussed the role these topics play in their everyday practice.  Of note, these sessions were led by Torsten Syrbe.

Strengthening international collaboration

The conference also served as a valuable opportunity for the members of our Global Healthcare & Life Sciences team from Paris, Düsseldorf and Brussels  to meet in person, exchange insights on their respective practices and emerging EU trends and how they affect their countries. Such cross-jurisdictional collaboration is essential for staying ahead of regulatory developments and delivering informed, looking forward and practical advice to our clients.

Looking ahead

We extend our thanks to the organisers, sponsors, and all participants for making HETHICO 2025 a true hub for knowledge-sharing and collaboration.

The event reinforced the importance of ongoing dialogue and partnership in navigating the rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.

Clifford Chance remains committed to advancing ethical standards and supporting our clients as they address the challenges and opportunities ahead. We look forward to continuing these important conversations and contributing to the future of compliance in the healthcare and life sciences sector.