AMIIF’s Innovation Week: Research, Regulation, IP

Innovation in pharma is fundamental to develop precise therapies, build a sustainable health system and spur economic development. Generating the right framework and environment for innovation to thrive in Mexico, however, is still a work in progress. During AMIIF’s Innovation Week, experts discussed the pending tasks in the industry to secure pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical access in Mexico.

Some trends disrupting the sector pertain to the use of electronic tools for remote monitoring of patients participating in clinical trials. These trials also favor not only the arrival of state-of-the-art medicines that benefit patients but also investment in the development of research teams and centers.

Gathering experts from different regulatory agencies around the world, Innovation Week exposed the sector’s need for international harmonization and regulatory reliance. Mexico could benefit from joining the International Council for Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) in the short, medium and long term because the country’s commitments and responsibilities call for collaborative participation between regulatory entities and the regulated sectors. Recognition from health regulatory agencies benefits the population by promoting the early arrival of pharmaceutical innovation with the highest standards of safety, quality and efficacy.

The event also delved into the importance of intellectual property, a key factor in generating an innovative environment in healthcare to improve people's wellbeing, said Komal Kalha, Associate Director for Industrial Property and Public Policy at the International Federation of Pharmaceuticals (IFPMA). “The fight against the pandemic demands innovative solutions, collaboration among the industry, but also the treatment of other ills that already afflicted humanity before 2020,” she said.

Private and public collaboration for an integral approach to healthcare was also discussed during the event. Decision makers encouraged collaboration, research and the use of tech as the base of health promotion in Mexico and abroad. During the pandemic, “technology and international cooperation were fundamental to ensure the provision of global healthcare services. This was a lesson for countries to operate and mobilize their healthcare resources, as the sector proved to be a driver of economies, development and so on,” said Carlos González Gutiérrez, Consul General of Mexico in San Diego.

In Mexico, the value of innovation is yet to be explored. A study by KPMG found that health services in the country can generate an economic benefit of 30 percent relative to the investment. Furthermore, the industry employs about 48,00 people, with a very equal integration of men and women at the operative and management levels. “Until Mexico does not have the right economic and social conditions, access to treatments and medical supplies will not reach its full potential,” according to KPMG.