Biosimilar drugs in Mexico

With the arrival of Dr. Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo to the Presidency of the Republic in September 2024, the concepts of health and health sovereignty gained new momentum within the Executive Branch.

The current administration has outlined concrete strategies to strengthen the pharmaceutical industry and research at the national level, integrating them into the Mexico 2030 Plan: Industrialization and Shared Prosperity Strategy.

This document establishes a periodic investment in the pharmaceutical sector, with a projection of 2 billion dollars by 2030. It also proposes a mixed scheme that places the production and export of biosimilar medicines in a privileged position in this continental region.

This strategic shift, which seeks to optimize public spending on health, also decides to focus on generic medicines in the consolidated purchase for 2025-2026.

Eduardo Clark García, Undersecretary for Integration and Development of the Health Sector, has mentioned to the media that this measure not only represents financial relief for the country, but also guarantees greater access to essential treatments.

That is to say, while patented medicines impose high costs and limit coverage, generics would be offering the same efficacy at considerably lower prices.

In a specific comparison with the United States, Mexico offers biosimilar drugs that are cheaper than their patented versions . Bevacizumab, used to treat various types of cancer, costs 30 percent less in our country, while Somatropin, indicated for growth disorders, and Rituximab, for lymphomas and autoimmune disorders, also have more affordable options.

Among these cases, Adalimumab, used for rheumatoid arthritis, stands out considerably; it is much cheaper in Mexico, where its patented version , Humira, exceeds $80,000 annually in the United States.

The introduction of biosimilar medicines into the health system has a positive impact on the health of the population. The reduction in price facilitates greater access to advanced therapies for patients who previously could not afford them, thus improving their quality of life and clinical outcomes.

At the same time, manufacturing them in the country not only strengthens the local pharmaceutical industry, but also boosts the economy and facilitates access to new and better treatments for patients, generating a direct impact on the health and pocketbooks of consumers.

PJG