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MEXICO GATEWAY FOR LATIN AMERICA EXPANSION AMÉRICO GARCÍA Latin America Managing Director of Apopharma
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Q: What was the motivation to create Apopharma and
In doing so, we were able to benefit many patients with
what market niches will this new division fill?
musculoskeletal affections.
A: Although generic medicines are growing in Mexico, patients in the country still prefer branded products, accounting
Q: Why was Mexico chosen as the base for Apopharma
for more than 70 percent of the market. Given the nature
over other countries?
of the Mexican health system, the private market in the
A: Apopharma has presence with innovative medications
country is mainly out of pocket. Additionally, an important
in other countries, but in Mexico the company is piloting a
part of the population prefers to seek private healthcare,
new strategy to reach patients and physicians with branded
which leads doctors to look for efficient, high quality and
products in selected specialty segments. The same products
higher cost-benefit ratio therapeutic alternatives. Apotex
that we are introducing into Mexico are being used in millions
has a comprehensive product portfolio that makes it highly
of prescriptions in Canada, the US and Europe but under a
competitive and allow patients to receive top-quality products.
different commercial strategy. Mexico is a dynamic market where brands are relevant for patients and physicians.
Apopharma, Apotex’s prescription division, is an opportunity
Leveraging on this, and with the company’s commitment and
to diversify the presence of the company in Mexico and
flexibility to serve the specificity of this market, Apotex dared
expand our reach into new channels contributing to Mexico’s
to move out of its comfort zone to bring fine medicines first
health alternatives. Apopharma strives to provide products
to Mexican patients, and to the rest of Latin America once
that meet international quality standards and have been
the strategy penetrates throughout the region.
certified in different parts of the globe, including US, Canada and Mexico, at the best cost. Moreover, our products
Q: What therapeutic areas does Apopharma cover and
have been endorsed by health authorities such as the
what are some of the medications included in its portfolio?
European Medicines Agency (EMA), FDA, Health Canada
A: Today Apopharma is present in three segments: central
and COFEPRIS in Mexico. All of the previously mentioned
nervous system (CNS), analgesia and lipid lowering
aspects enabled Apopharma to be launched in Mexico in
medications. Some of the drugs we are introducing are for
2018. Ever since that moment, we have offered one of the
treating depression, anxiety, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD),
most complete product portfolios in central nervous system
Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, neuropathic pain, lipid-lowering,
(CNS), analgesia and starting in 2019, cardiology.
chronic and acute pain, amongst others. Along important brands such as Periamid, Ansdepcan, Filcos, Minofedral and
Q: What does Apopharma represent for Apotex in terms
Exotrima, Apopharma’s star medicine is Menural, prescribed
of profits and investment?
for different types of dementia. Menural contains the active
A: We are at an early stage of introducing Apopharma in
ingredient Memantine for Alzheimer’s. What makes Menural
the market. Apopharma in Mexico and Latin America still
and all our medicines different from other players is that
presents the opportunity to expand and penetrate other
they are endorsed and certified by the most important and
segments where the company has not been present yet.
strict health regulatory agencies worldwide. Our significant
Without any doubt, this represents a great success for
investment in R&D has enabled us to have a positive impact
Apotex which can proudly say that it provides physicians
on patient’s quality of life for more than 20 years.
and patients a wide variety of globally commercialized products. Currently, we are seeing the results of an investigative collaboration between Mexico and Canada
Apopharma is part of Apotex. It is an innovative drug company
in different therapeutic areas. This has allowed us to
focused on developing and commercializing products for
accomplish diverse goals such as being the first company to
patients with debilitating and life-threatening diseases where
launch Filcos (Etoricoxib) just after the patent had expired.
treatment options are limited or do not exist
