| VIEW FROM THE TOP
EXPERIENCE-BASED SERVICES FOR CLINICAL RESEARCH MELISSA ROSALES Director General of RM Pharma
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Q: Last year, you said that you would open new offices in
A: Clinical research companies must invest a great deal to
Queretaro. Where does that project stand and what impact
prepare doctors. Availability of health researchers is not
will it have on operations?
enough and people who want to be part of this sector
A: The project is still in construction. However, these
must be trained as specialists. RM Pharma is committed
new offices will begin operating in 2019 and will operate
to building the best talent and training our staff so they
the same way as our headquarters, with a research and
have a broad knowledge base, from basic requirements to
medical care department. We believe that this represents
highly specialized procedures. All those who come to work
an opportunity to attract more clinical research projects
at RM Pharma go through a process of training in clinical
to RM Pharma and will also increase our ability to provide
research but also in administrative and management tasks.
broader coverage in Mexico.
Our professionals have experience beyond the medical field and are certified in laboratory practices, sampling and other
Q: In what areas should Mexico improve in terms of internal
skills. We make sure that we always have highly qualified
regulation to facilitate the development of clinical trials?
people working for us.
A: The government is open to listening to the clinical research industry, which is greatly increasing the opportunities
Q: What trends does RM Pharma see for the development
available for the sector. RM Pharma participates as one of
of clinical studies? How is Mexico prepared to face
the first companies in the pilot program of digital regulation
these trends?
for clinical research. Other government initiatives are also
A: The trend at the moment is oncology but RM Pharma
boosting public-private participation, which we believe will
is not ready to address this development, which requires
improve the country’s performance in clinical research.
specialized hospitals. Oncological clinical research in RM Pharma could be conducted in palliatives and other similar
Q: What recommendations would RM Pharma make to the
solutions in oncology patients. Another trend is chronic
health sector to encourage researcher training?
degenerative diseases.
A: Inclusion of clinical research as an optional or mandatory class at universities and colleges is key to promoting the
Q: Why is RM Pharma the ideal choice for pharmaceutical
development of clinical research in Mexico. We need medical
companies or CROs?
students to embrace research. Educational programming
A: RM Pharma is both a clinical research site and a CRO so
should also include opportunities to work in pharmaceutical
we can provide experience-based services that also offer
clinical research and basic research. If students leave
high-quality and personalized attention. We are focused on
university with knowledge about clinical research and its
conducting clinical research but we also develop research
basic elements, when they enter the industry they will be
protocols and statistics and provide regulatory assistance.
competitive professionals. Q: What are the three main goals that RM Pharma hopes Q: What are the main obstacles that Mexico faces when
to meet in 2018?
training researchers in high-level clinical studies? How does
A: We want to increase the number of active protocols
RM Pharma get the best talent?
and to develop more services for the national industry as a CRO. We want to recruit and train more doctors in clinical research to be more competitive in the segment. as
We want to grow our portfolio of specialists to cover
rheumatology, endocrinology, dermatology, general medicine
the five new projects that are coming next year: asthma,
and
psoriasis, osteoporosis in children, pain in dental studies
RM
Pharma
specializes
nutrition,
in
pediatrics,
gastroenterology and dentistry
therapeutic
areas
otorhinolaryngology,
such
urology,
and gonorrhea.
