Million-dollar investment to create 'Made in Mexico' medicines

President Claudia Sheinbaum announced a strategic investment of 10.48 billion pesos, in collaboration with four pharmaceutical companies, to strengthen domestic drug production and achieve "pharmaceutical sovereignty" as part of "Plan Mexico."

In a strategic move to reduce foreign dependence, President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, along with the Ministries of Economy and Health, announced a private investment of 10.48 billion pesos to strengthen the national pharmaceutical industry. The initiative is part of the "Mexico Plan," which seeks to boost local production under the slogan "Made in Mexico."

The investment comes from a consortium of four major laboratories and is broken down as follows:

• KENER Laboratories: 5,180 million pesos
• GENBIO: 4,000 million pesos
• ALPHARMA BioGenTec: 800 million pesos
• NEOLSYM: 500 million pesos

This capital injection is expected to generate hundreds of direct and indirect jobs, in addition to fostering innovation and technological development in the country.

The plan's central objective is to achieve pharmaceutical sovereignty. President Sheinbaum recalled the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Mexico faced significant vulnerability due to its dependence on imports for basic supplies such as face masks and swabs for PCR tests.

"What do we want in a vulnerable situation, facing a pandemic? We don't want to be dependent on just one manufacturer in the world... we want to strengthen domestic production." – President Claudia Sheinbaum.

The plan not only seeks to prepare the country for future health crises but also to strengthen the national economy. By producing more medicines and raw materials in Mexico, the drain on foreign currency is reduced, highly skilled jobs are created, and the country is positioned as a more relevant player in the global pharmaceutical sector.

Another key pillar of the announcement is the promotion of innovation. The president emphasized that it's not just about manufacturing, but also about researching and developing new medicines in Mexico. The ultimate goal is for this innovation to translate into more accessible and affordable medicines for the entire Mexican population.

Diego Antonio Ocampo, of Grupo Neolpharma, explained that his company, Neolsym, will specifically invest in the manufacturing of pharmaceutical raw materials and supplies, a key link in the production chain that currently relies heavily on foreign sources. This effort represents a concrete step toward the country's self-sufficiency and health security.