Despite well-documented concerns about Europe’s competitiveness, a recent medical milestone demonstrates that with the right policy framework, the region can still attract investments that enable both the EU and its citizens to thrive. When selecting a site for the largest vaccine registry study ever undertaken, Pfizer chose Denmark – largely due to its innovation-friendly environment, which enabled the recruitment of more than 500,000 participants.

To assess whether its respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine could reduce hospitalisations in adults, Pfizer partnered with researchers at the Center for Translational Cardiology and Pragmatic Randomized Trials (CTCPR) at Herlev-Gentofte Hospital in Copenhagen. Together, they launched a randomised, controlled, pragmatic clinical trial in real-world settings beginning in 2024. Leveraging eBoks, Denmark’s national digital mailbox, researchers were able to invite almost the entire adult population to participate directly.

Denmark’s digital infrastructure proved instrumental. Study materials were made fully accessible online, so participants could provide informed consent electronically from home, and only those receiving the vaccine needed to attend in-person appointments. Combined with the country’s world-class health registries, this infrastructure enabled comprehensive tracking and robust analysis of health outcomes.

The trial stands as a success – not only for advancing public health but also for demonstrating the strength of Denmark’s digital healthcare ecosystem. It shows that with high-quality registries, advanced digital health systems and strong public–private collaboration, Europe can attract and deliver large-scale clinical research that ultimately benefits populations both within the EU and beyond.

Tor Biering-Sørensen Professor, MD, MSc, MPH, PhD, Department of Cardiology, University of Copenhagen