A recent Global Health Progress fact sheet highlights how Mexico’s investment in its biopharmaceutical sector has spurred economic growth, fostered global competitiveness, reduced the health and economic burden of disease on local citizens, and improved access to medicines. With the tenth largest economy in the world, Mexico is currently investing more than 1% of its gross domestic product into its biopharmaceutical sector and this percentage is anticipated to increase as the country works to develop tomorrow’s medicines.
Like the U.S. and other big emerging markets, Mexico has recognized the potential of the biopharmaceutical sector to be an important source of economic growth through the creation of high-quality, high-skilled jobs. Currently, Mexico’s biopharmaceutical sector employs nearly 25,000 Mexican nationals at more than 32 biotechnology companies. The number of skilled workers entering the workforce is predicted to increase as more than 750,000 engineering and technology students in Mexico are currently enrolled in local universities. More than 90,000 new engineers and technology students graduate each year from Mexican universities and engineering and technology degrees comprised one-fourth of new university degrees in 2005. Additionally, collaboration between the public and private sector has resulted in the creation of more than 100 research centers.
Mexico’s emphasis on job creation stimulates the developments of new drugs, which improves access to medicines for its entire citizenry. For example, there are approximately 254 medicines in development or awaiting regulatory review for Mexican patients and Mexico currently ranks 19 out of 25 in terms of active clinical trial sites. The growth in share of global clinical trial sites can bring health benefits to Mexican patients, such as diffusion of medical knowledge, greater patience access to medicines and high quality care and effective medical practice. Through carefully controlled clinical studies, researchers can assess the safety and efficacy of new medicine candidates. Mexico’s growth in clinical trials is largely due to its population size (approximately 106.4 million people), lower costs of conducting trials, and efficiency of recruiting participants.
Recognizing the potential for economic growth, improving access to medicines and inspiring drug innovation, the Mexican government has sought to implement policies to foster the growth of the sector. The National Council for Science and Technology, the principal government funding agency for scientific research in Mexico, provided approximately US $16 million to fund basic science projects between 2001 and 2004. From 2001-2004, approximately 4,588 applied science projects were funded. Other key Mexican government initiatives include efforts to support the growth of regional biotechnology clusters, which bring together industry, government, universities and research centers. Mexico also has several bioclusters, made up of biotechnology, biopharmaceutical and related companies, focused on pharmaceutical R&D. In addition, public-private partnerships between the Mexican government, academia and industry are increasing due in part to the government’s continued commitment to science and technology research and education.
Recognizing the potential for future economic growth in the country’s biotechnology sector, Mexican President Felipe Calderón has stated, “Scientific research and technological innovation are essential to promoting the development of Latin American countries, invigorating economic growth [and] boosting competitiveness.”
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Global Health Progress supports efforts to raise awareness and mobilize resources to address health challenges, including supporting the development of tomorrow’s medicines and improving access to medicines .
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