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Dra. Cajigas, you were appointed Director General of INVIMA just over two years ago. What have been the biggest challenges that you have faced since the start of your tenure? When I was appointed two years ago, the priority for INVIMA was the sanitary vigilance of food. We participated in…

Espíndola International Consultants An expert in trade and regulatory issues relating to the pharmaceutical industry in Colombia, the senior partner of Espíndola International Consultants offers his opinions on the steps taken by the Colombian authorities to improve quality and reduce corruption in the sector, as well as discussing the steps to maintain cost containment…

IMS Health Ireland Mr. Egan, what path led you to IMS Health? My original background is in science—I received a PhD in medical microbiology, and worked for some time as a post-doctoral researcher for a Swedish biotech company that was contracting research services here in Ireland. I have since hung up my lab…

Mexico Beyond the bright lights of Mexico City’s Santa Fe and Polanco districts, roughly half of Mexicans lack access to quality healthcare or medicines. This presents a challenge for pharma companies in terms of corporate social responsibility (CSR). To Miguel Múnera, general manager for Roche Mexico, CSR isn’t just a way…

Can you please tell our readers, what were some of ALK’s highlights in 2012? We had several important milestones in 2012. We advanced our research and development pipeline and made progress in the sales of several of our existing products like AVANZ and GRAZAX. We also introduced new products in…

Mexico In the late 1990s, Rodrigo Herrera Aspra wanted to commercialize a new anti-acne formulation, and was advised by a friend who was involved in the pharmaceutical industry to hire a group of medical reps. “After thinking on this issue, I concluded there was something wrong with a business model in…

Biotech As in many emerging countries, it is taking a while for Mexican legislation to catch up with the latest technologies. Alejandra Mendoza, general manager of Genzyme Mexico, says that regulation has been the main challenge her firm has had to face. “We were pioneers in biotech in Mexico, so we…

Italy Sicily plays a major role in a plethora of gangster stories, whether real or fictional; the initiated also know that it is the land of incredibly well preserved Greco-Roman sights and excellent food and wine. Fewer, however, are aware that the Italian island more recently gave birth to outstanding pharmaceutical…

Growth Why did MSD decide to have Denmark as the headquarters for the Mid Europe 2 region? This Mid Europe 2 region consists of 10 countries, most of them clustered around the Nordics, which include the Nordics, the Baltics, Switzerland and Austria. The region is characterized by stable economies with positive GDP…

After establishing the operations of ChemPartner in 2009, can you tell our readers why Denmark? ChemPartner is a leading contract research laboratory within drug discovery. When ChemPartner was openly reviewing a number of locations throughout Europe, we chose Denmark since we were looking for good infrastructure, proximity to an international…

The last years have been challenging Sanofi since many of your historic blockbuster drugs that have driven the growth of Sanofi in the past, have faced patent expiration and loss in sales. Having said that, what has been the overall performance of your operations in the Nordic and Baltic countries?…

Ireland Can you please introduce yourself, and Ernst & Young’s life science practice in Ireland, to our readers? I am the managing partner of Ernst & Young (EY) in Ireland, responsible for both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.I have been with EY since the start of my professional career…