From Pipeline to Prevention: Pharma Reshapes Chronic Disease Care

Chronic diseases represent a significant health and economic challenge for Mexico’s healthcare system. Conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and mental health disorders affect millions of individuals and place substantial pressure on both public and private healthcare systems. Despite ongoing efforts, gaps remain in access, continuity of care, and effective disease management, and traditional pharmaceutical approaches focused solely on drug development are proving insufficient to address these complex, long-term challenges.

“Personalization in the treatment of chronic diseases is the frontier we want to reach,” says Gustavo Alcocer, Partner and Co-Chair Life Sciences Group, OLIVARES. But to do so, regulatory bottlenecks must be avoided to ensure innovations reach patients quickly. “We need to leverage digitalization for regulatory dossiers in order to accelerate access to innovation,” he adds. 

Pharmaceutical companies in Mexico are adopting innovative solutions to tackle complex challenges. Mature medicines with proven efficacy are being strategically deployed to maintain continuity of care, particularly in underserved regions, through both government initiatives and private distribution networks. Meanwhile, emerging technologies — including AI, biomarker-driven research, and advanced drug discovery platforms — are accelerating the development of targeted therapies for chronic and complex conditions.

Digital tools are playing a growing role in transforming chronic care, says Emily Morris, Head Latin America and General Manager Pharma Mexico, Sanofi. She adds that AI is revolutionizing patient identification, enabling more precise and personalized treatments.

Digital health solutions can enable continuous monitoring, personalized treatment plans, and actionable insights that improve adherence and outcomes, but access remains a central issue. “When we look at what is happening in the world, there is a significant gap. What could happen in Mexico if these therapies were available?” says Miguel Freire, President, Novartis Mexico. He adds that prevention and primary interventions must be strengthened through public-private collaboration, especially for rural and vulnerable communities.

Patient behavior is a key determinant of outcomes. “The doctor can prescribe, but the result is in the hands of the patient. It has been proven that the simpler the treatment, the better the results,” says Arturo de la Rosa, Vice President Latin America, Gilead Sciences. In Brazil, for example, preventive innovation led to a 5% drop in mortality from heart attacks in 2013, adds de la Rosa.

For that reason, innovation must be paired with education and accessibility, says Gabriela Allard, President, Mexican Association of Diabetes. “Many patients abandon new medical devices because they do not find them sustainable or rewarding. We need to create materials in different languages and formats to reach communities on their own terms.” Furthermore, in Mexico, access to technology and therapies often remains a privilege rather than a standard, she adds.

Looking ahead, the trajectory of chronic disease care in Mexico points toward a fully integrated ecosystem that bridges therapeutic development with prevention and real-world impact. Pharmaceutical companies are positioned to lead this transformation by scaling proven solutions: maintaining access to mature medicines, expanding the adoption of digital health tools, advancing precision drug discovery, and implementing preventive interventions at the population level.

The next generation of chronic disease care will likely be defined less by individual technologies and more by the healthcare ecosystem’s ability to deliver inclusive, effective, and sustainable innovation. “Consumers are increasingly empowered, sustainability-focused, and looking for personalization. If it only takes one click, even better,” says Alcocer.