Some of the top recent stories out of Latin America’s dynamic pharmaceutical and healthcare market. In Mexico, President Claudia Sheinbaum announced new investments from four leading Mexican pharmas totalling USD 560 million; a worrying new report from the Pan-American Health Organisation showing that measles cases are up 29-fold in the region this year; and Hypera’s play for dominance in Brazil’s pharma sector.
Mexico: US$560 million of Pharmaceutical investments (PharmaBiz.net – in Spanish)
As part of the so-called Plan Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration announced investments from a quartet of Mexican pharmaceutical companies. The goal is to expand installed capacity in the country. The investment will total approximately US$560 million.
In one of its regular morning press conferences, Claudia Sheinbaum’s government announced the first four investments, totalling disbursements of 10.48 billion Mexican pesos (US$559.6 million). These will be made by local companies Kener, which will allocate MXN 5.18 billion (US$277 million); Genbio, for MXN 4.000 billion (US$214 million); Alpharma BioGenTec for MXN 800 million (US$43 million); and Neolsym, for MXN 500 million (US$27 million).
Measles cases rise in the Americas in 2025 (PAHO)
A total of 7,132 confirmed cases of measles and 13 deaths have been reported in the Region of the Americas as of mid-June 2025, according to the latest epidemiological update from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). This represents a 29-fold increase compared to the 244 cases reported during the same period in 2024.]
At a key moment for the future of healthcare systems in Latin America, the Latin American Federation of the Pharmaceutical Industry (FIFARMA) presented, within the framework of its first annual healthcare innovation summit, various analyses and discussions that highlighted both the progress and challenges facing the sector in the region. These included significant advances in innovation and clinical research, and the significant challenges it faces in terms of patient access to treatment.
The pharmaceutical landscape in Brazil is undergoing a high-stakes corporate battle, with Hypera Pharmaceuticals at the center. A newly formed coalition of shareholders—holding a combined 53% stake—has positioned the company as a fortress against hostile takeovers, signaling a pivotal shift in strategic control and market consolidation. For investors, this move represents both a defensive shield and an offensive lever to capitalize on Latin America’s growing healthcare demand.
Grünenthal today announced the acquisition of the commercial rights to Cialis® (tadalafil) in Mexico, Brazil and Colombia from Eli Lilly and Company. Over the next few years, Grünenthal and Lilly will work together to transfer the manufacturing to Grünenthal’s production site in Santiago, Chile, that will supply Cialis® for Mexico, Brazil and Colombia moving forward. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2025, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Grünenthal will finance the transaction using available liquidity. The financial terms of the transaction are not disclosed.
