SECIHTI, COFEPRIS Strengthen Ties for Medical Innovation

Mexico’s Minister of Science, Humanities, Technology and Innovation (SECIHTI) and the Federal Commission for the Protection Against Sanitary Risks (COFEPRIS) have formalized a cooperation agreement aimed at tightening the link between scientific research and health regulation.

The agreement, signed by Rosaura Ruiz, Minister, SECIHTI, and Armida Zúñiga, Head, COFEPRIS, sets out a framework to accelerate the path from research to regulatory approval for medical products developed in universities and public research centers. Ruiz said the partnership is designed to ensure that new medicines, medical devices and other innovations are reviewed efficiently and safely before entering the market.

SECIHTI’s network of laboratories, including public universities, national laboratories and research centers, will support COFEPRIS in conducting technical and scientific analyses of food, medicines and medical devices. These studies will provide reliable and transparent data to back regulatory certification processes.

Zúñiga emphasized that the collaboration will facilitate information sharing and the joint development of projects in health sciences. The program includes the creation of databases to manage large volumes of scientific and technological information, training programs, academic materials and joint publications based on research outcomes.

The initiative also aligns with Mexico’s National Pharmaceutical and Medical Equipment Production Program, which seeks to strengthen the country’s regulatory capacity and position COFEPRIS as a reference authority worldwide. As part of this effort, COFEPRIS is advancing the implementation of the World Health Organization’s Global Benchmarking Tool and pursuing recognition as a WHO-Listed Authority. International cooperation with the European Union will also be leveraged to improve regulatory systems for medicines and vaccines in the Americas.