The therapies developed by the pharmaceutical industry have helped improve the quality of life of millions of Mexicans. However, the demand for medicines will continue to increase; especially to care for chronic non-communicable diseases, which will continue to grow in units and value. In units, 34% of the pharmaceutical market in 2005 corresponded to medicines for chronic non-communicable diseases. In 2021, the figure increased to 43% and by 2024 it is expected to reach 45%. In terms of value of the pharmaceutical market, by 2024, 63% will be aimed at chronic non-communicable diseases.
This is largely due to the aging of the population. By 2024, 33% of the population will be 45 years or olderwhich will accelerate the epidemiological transition: from a time in which infectious diseases were the main cause of death, to one with a predominance of non-communicable diseases.
Strengthen the work between the public and private sectors
Constanza Losada, CEO of Pfizer Mexico, points out that the public and private sectors must work together to expand access to health services
AN: Constanza, what is the outlook for the pharmaceutical industry for next year?
The industry has always been very dynamic, but the pandemic gave it greater dynamism: today it generates more than 100,000 jobs, exports more than 1,000 million dollars (million dollars) and invests more than 250 million dollars in research and development. Globally, it is the industry that generates the most patent registrations. This requires us to be more committed to patients for the coming years and to continue with the same dynamism.
The industry will also continue to focus on digital transformation. We are waiting for the Digital Health Law, which will undoubtedly help improve performance and results in health promotion, disease prevention, and resource management. It will also make healthcare more accessible and affordable, bridging the access gap. For example, telemedicine will allow people to access specialists no matter where they are.
Regarding the costs of medicines, we believe that inflation will decrease and this will benefit the pockets of Mexicans. Access to medicines is not only the responsibility of the pharmaceutical sector, but of the entire health ecosystem. We work on many projects to give access to medicines. For example, we have a program to help women with metastatic breast cancer access their treatment. If a woman has already exhausted the limit of her medical expenses insurance, we carry out a socioeconomic study so that she can access her medicine.
Support of this type is important, but it must be done in conjunction with the government and other institutions to reach all the people who need them. I believe that the public and private sectors must converge to address access to health services and medicines. Healthy countries are strong countries.
AN: What are the plans that Pfizer has for 2023?
Our plans for Mexico are aligned with the company’s global strategic pillars: generating top-level science and giving equitable access to our products, putting patients at the center. That means bringing therapies and treatments to Mexicoat the same time that we do it all over the world.
In addition, we will continue to invest in research and development. In our hub in Mexico, which is very important globally, in the last three years we have run 45 clinical protocols. One of them is related to treatment for COVID-19 and is already available in the public sector for emergency use.
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In addition, we have brought 13 innovative therapies to the country and we are going to exceed that number in 2025. We are now launching a product for atopic dermatitis, targeting the area of immune inflammation.
As a pharmaceutical company we are present in many areas, not only in vaccines against COVID-19. We invest 15% of our global revenue in research and new therapies, so that patients have access to early diagnosis and timely treatment.
Today we have 89 projects in development, including oncology, vaccines, rare diseases, antibiotics, internal medicine, inflammation, and immunology.
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