Background on Roche and its Relevance
Roche, a Swiss multinational biotechnology company, is considering investing up to approximately 4,000 million pesos in clinical research in Mexico over the next five years. This potential investment hinges on the improvement of regulatory conditions and streamlining approval processes for clinical trials.
Roche’s Current Investment in Mexico
In 2024, Roche conducted 68 clinical trials in Mexico and invested over 500 million pesos in this area.
Potential Investment and its Impact
Daniele Galbiatti, Director of Clinical Research at Roche Mexico, stated that if regulatory conditions are optimal, the company could invest around 4,000 million pesos in clinical research over the next five years.
Should favorable conditions arise for increasing investments in Mexico, Roche could allocate an average of 800 million pesos annually over the next quinquennium. This represents a 60% average annual increase compared to last year’s 500 million pesos investment.
Galbiatti emphasized that Mexico currently hosts only 2% of the world’s clinical trial patients. However, Roche believes in Mexico’s potential to become a global hub for clinical research, not just regionally.
Galbiatti estimates that for every dollar invested in this area, Mexico could see a return of between 5 and 25 dollars in social and economic benefits, reflected in improved population health, reduced costs for the public health system, job creation, infrastructure advancements, and increased investments.
Participation in clinical trials also allows researchers and the healthcare system to access therapeutic innovations directly, enhancing medical staff training.
Roche’s Recent and Planned Clinical Trials in Mexico
This year, Roche initiated two new phase 1 studies in lupus and MASH (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease associated with metabolic dysfunction), adding to the three phase 1 trials conducted in 2024, focusing on lupus, lung cancer, and multiple sclerosis.
Conducting a phase 1 study, primarily for lupus therapies, requires significant investment in professional training, infrastructure modernization, and advanced technology implementation.
Roche has been conducting clinical research in Mexico for 28 years, and Galbiatti affirmed that they will continue “betting on the country” due to its potential to become a hub for innovation and scientific research.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is Roche considering? Roche is contemplating investing up to 4,000 million pesos in clinical research in Mexico over the next five years.
- What conditions must be met for this investment? Regulatory conditions need to improve, and approval processes for clinical trials must be streamlined.
- What was Roche’s investment in 2024? Roche invested over 500 million pesos in clinical research in Mexico during 2024.
- What could be the annual investment if conditions improve? Roche could invest an average of 800 million pesos annually over the next quinquenium.
- What benefits does clinical research bring to Mexico? Clinical research can lead to improved population health, reduced public health system costs, job creation, infrastructure advancements, and increased investments.
- What recent clinical trials has Roche initiated in Mexico? Roche recently started two new phase 1 studies in lupus and MASH, along with three phase 1 trials in 2024 focusing on lupus, lung cancer, and multiple sclerosis.
