A roundup of top stories from Latin American pharma and healthcare, including the beginning of the Mexican government’s consolidated procurement of medicines; Libbs’ new biologics plant; Novo Nordisk’s USD 142.4 million investment in Brazil, and SteinCares’ plasma derivatives deal with Biotest.
Record dengue outbreak in Americas kills 7,700 this year, PAHO says (Reuters)
Biotech Nintx Raises US$ 10 Million to Advance a New Generation of Medicines Based on Brazilian Biodiversity (BioSpace)
Following a US$ 3 million seed investment in 2022, Nintx (Next Innovative Therapeutics), a biotech company researching and developing treatments for multifactorial diseases using Brazil’s biodiversity, has just raised an additional US$ 10 million.
The investments will support the company’s plans for the coming years, which include accelerating the R&D of eight new drug programs (mostly in partnership with companies, such as Adeste and Centroflora, and research institutions, such as CIEnP and CNPEM, which houses Sirius, one of the largest particle accelerators in the world), hiring researchers, introducing new technologies, and expanding the laboratory.
SSa and Birmex launch historic tender for the consolidated purchase of medicines in Mexico (Consultor Salud, in Spanish)
The Ministry of Health (SSa) and Laboratorios de Biológicos y Reactivos de México S.A. de C.V. (Birmex) have initiated the largest tender process in the history of the health sector for the consolidated purchase of medicines and medical supplies for the years 2025 and 2026. This effort seeks to guarantee the timely supply of essential supplies throughout the country, consolidating the commitment to strengthen equitable access to quality health services.
The initiative includes the participation of 26 public health institutions, including the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), the Institute of Security and Social Services for State Workers (ISSSTE), IMSS-Bienestar, the Ministry of the Navy (SEMAR), Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX), and national health institutes and centres. Together, these institutions will consolidate the procurement of more than 3,900 keys of essential medicines and medical supplies to cover the needs of the population throughout the country.
Laboratorio Dromex expands its presence in Latin America with an office in Bogota (Consultor Salud, in Spanish)
The pharmaceutical company advances in its internationalisation strategy with the opening of a commercial office in Colombia, consolidating its presence in the region. The pharmaceutical laboratory Dromex, a company with international projection, has taken a further step in its expansion in Latin America by opening its new commercial office in Bogota, Colombia. This opening marks a strategic milestone in its regional growth plan, which began in 2022 with its entry into the Mexican market.
Brazilian Libbs opens biotech plant (Pharmabiz, in Spanish)
The Brazilian company founded in 1958 by Alcebíades de Athayde inaugurated a Biotech Pilot Plant and a High Potency Medicines Factory, the first of its kind in Brazil. The complex will be dedicated to the development of highly complex biotechnological drugs and the production of small-scale oral chemotherapy drugs to meet the needs.
The Biotech Pilot Plant, Embu das Artes industrial park, will develop biological medicines such as monoclonal antibodies, recombinant therapeutic proteins, messenger RNA vaccines and biosimilars using advanced technologies. ‘Both initiatives reinforce our commitment to expand access to highly complex treatments and promote research and innovation in the country,’ the company said in a press release.
Novo Nordisk: productive investment in Brazil (Pharmabiz, in Spanish)
The multinational Danish producer of blockbusters Wegovy and Ozempic is putting its foot on the accelerator in Brazil. Two months after announcing an investment of R$864 million (US$142.4 million) for process improvements, modernisation of factories and implementation of sustainability projects, it has now announced another R$500 million (US$82.4 million).
The planned disbursement is aimed at increasing the production capacity of enterokinase and ALP, essential enzymes for the manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients.
SteinCares closes deal with Biotest (Pharmabiz.net, in Spanish)
Costa Rica’s SteinCares has formally entered the plasma derivatives segment. It did so through a deal with Germany’s Biotest to market and distribute Haemoctin, a plasma-derived factor VIII treatment for haemophilia, in seven Latin American countries. Haemophilia therapies are essential for the management of this disease, which affects approximately 56,000 people in Latin America.
Prepaid health schemes face probe for alleged ‘cartel practices’ (Buenos Aires Times)
President Javier Milei’s government, in contrast to its rhetoric of free-market liberalism at all costs, has announced that leading health providers are to be indicted for monopolistic behaviour.
The CNDC (Comisión Nacional de Defensa de la Competencia) anti-monopoly watchdog will initiate summary proceedings against seven prepaid health care schemes in total, as well as the chamber grouping them and its then-president for presumed conspiratorial practices.
R$17 million drug for rare disease has registration approved by Anvisa (Veja, in Portuguese)
Considered one of today’s most expensive drugs and the centre of discussions about providing treatment for people living with rare diseases, Roche’s Elevidys has had its registration approved for children aged 4 to 7 with Duchenne muscular dystrophy on Monday 2 by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa). The release was exceptional because of the seriousness of the disease and the lack of other treatments for the condition.
