Read the Conversation
F: From your and MSD’s perspective, do you see this year as a challenge or an opportunity?
SA: Despite the challenges over the past 18 months, our MSD workforce has consistently demonstrated resilience and resourcefulness. The combination of exceptional human capital and diversity has allowed us to navigate these obstacles. From both political and economic standpoints, we've managed to identify pathways forward. Looking ahead in the post-pandemic era, collaboration across sectors is a strong point, particularly in healthcare. Our efforts have been channeled toward revitalizing health-focused initiatives and investments. A prime example is Costa Rica, which stands out for prioritizing the health of its population. Their allocation of resources, exceeding the OECD average of 6.6% GDP investment in health, showcases their commitment. Costa Rica's proactive stance makes it an inspiring role model, contributing to a favorable landscape, which could be improved upon an increased prioritization of healthcare investment from other countries across the region. Within this environment, our successful and growing business at MSD can thrive, thanks to our diverse workforce, whose ability to seize opportunities consistently fuels our growth trajectory.
EF: What drew you to Latin America, and what objectives did you establish for yourself upon assuming your current role?
SA: Coming from Latina roots but raised in New Jersey, I take immense pride in my American upbringing. My maternal ties connect me to Puerto Rico, while my father's heritage traces back to Ecuador. This background has allowed me to foster a deep affinity for Latin America. Following my successful stint as managing director in Sweden, a conversation with MSD management stirred an important question. In a decade, Latin America will mark its 100-year anniversary, a milestone in its 135-year multinational legacy. I seized the opportunity to ask: Why not have a woman, particularly a Latina, lead this region? My inquiry ignited a series of realizations, setting us on the path to where we are now. Of course, the journey involved interviews and a selection process, but I’m thrilled to have been selected, and it is an honor to be serving in this role.
EF: How do you manage the population's diverse needs? How has your footprint and portfolio been tailored to address the prevalent unmet needs within Latin America?
SA: As the President of our Human Health division in Latin America, I oversee a presence across approximately 30 markets, including Puerto Rico. Our scope also includes Brazil, a difference not shared by all multinational counterparts. This diverse footprint, uniting around 5,000 dedicated professionals, fills me with immense pride. Our portfolio's evolution aligns with scientific advancements—a hallmark of our company. Among our focus areas, oncology takes precedence, addressing a substantial post-pandemic demand, particularly within our region.
Recent acquisitions have propelled us towards an exciting frontier: immunology. This strategic pivot aligns with our science-guided approach. While our direction evolves, the constant remains—an unwavering pursuit to fulfill unmet medical needs across the diverse markets we serve.
Another source of pride is our contribution to public health. Across the varied countries we engage with, we've integrated our vaccines into 52 national immunization programs, reinforcing our dedication. Our legacy in diabetes and cardiovascular care showcases our commitment to these critical areas.
EF: Could you elaborate further on your current pipeline, how you assess it, and its potential impact on the region you oversee?
SA: Something important to discuss is our research and development presence in Latin America. As a multinational entity, we dedicated a substantial $13.5 billion globally in 2022 solely to research and development activities. Latin America is pivotal, conducting almost 200 clinical trials at around 2,000 active sites in the region with nearly 20,000 randomized patients. The region contributed 28% of MSD’s global patient allocation for clinical trials, and we take pride in contributing diversity to the global research and development programs in which we participate. Colombia and Mexico, our standout patient enrollers, are propelling our future through robust clinical trials. With a predominant focus on oncology addressing unmet needs, we're also making strides in cardiovascular and vaccine research. Building on our legacy, this investment in research and development sets the stage for an exciting and impactful future.
EF: How is MSD fostering collaborations, and how are you driving the public-private partnerships in LATAM to advance the industry?
SA: Effective partnerships are indispensable in healthcare achievement at MSD and across the board. The cornerstone is a harmonious collaboration spanning public, private, and civil sectors. MSD takes immense pride in its history of fostering such alliances, particularly in Latin America. For instance, our enduring partnership with Instituto Butantan spans decades in Brazil, prominently featuring our joint effort in combatting the human papillomavirus and, most recently, a collaboration to share clinical data and other learnings from our respective dengue vaccine development programs. Similar impactful partnerships reverberate across our footprint.
In oncology, the synergy with the City Cancer Challenge highlights our commitment to help implement new policies that can improve cancer care in 5 cities in Latin America. Additionally, our support extends to innovation, as seen in our collaboration with Mamotest—a company devoted to accessible breast cancer screening through digital mammography. These instances echo our profound history of cooperation.
EF: How are you leveraging digitalization and technology to enhance your regional operations, and how do you balance these domains?
SA: Aligned with our regional vision, MSD's teams are committed to revolutionizing healthcare, striving for improved lives. Embracing this vision, we consistently embrace cutting-edge technologies and innovations, seamlessly weaving them into our operations. That includes investing in data that fuels innovation for clinical trials and Real-World Evidence data management and the ethical use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to enable the generation of innovative technologies for drug discovery and development. Through ongoing experimentation and strategic collaborations, such as funding innovative ventures, we harness existing technologies, avoiding unnecessary reinventions. A digital health trajectory has emerged in Latin America, catalyzed by post-pandemic insights. Our involvement in the Americas Business Dialogue underscores this commitment, and our strong participation in the launch of the Americas RISE for Health coalition in March epitomizes our shared aspirations. RISE stands for Resilience, Inclusive, Sustainable, and Equitable Health Systems, and, united as multinational entities, civil societies, and governments, we charted a transformative course, highlighting digital health's pivotal role. The involvement of actors from public and private sectors and civil society is significant, as these players spearhead digital health initiatives alongside us. With unwavering dedication, we look forward to the positive changes this collaboration will bring, underlining Latin America's digital health evolution.
EF: How do you pitch to headquarters to attract resources to Latin America? What methods would you employ to emphasize the need for increased resources in this region? What’s the significance of this region to the group?
SA: Our CEO and executive team visited us in Brazil in March, where we presented our compelling case. We highlight our workforce's intrinsic diversity, fueled by their passion and proven performance team with a rich history of excellence. Our potential, however, continues. The impactful initiatives we showcased to our management team and continue to emphasize throughout the year demonstrate our footprint and research prowess, coupled with robust partnerships. Our region is a beacon of excitement within our company. During a recent conversation with our head of research and development, we discussed our growing clinical trial presence, partly prompted by post-pandemic dynamics. The enthusiastic response from patients enrolling in our region underscores the enduring potential we champion—an opportunity that remains compelling and promising.
Also, during my recent visit to Costa Rica, I was privileged to engage with our substantial global financial services center, a hub of over 300 skilled professionals. This center, among three globally, reinforces our commitment to excellence. Three out of five Global Pharmacovigilance and Clinical Trials Operations Data Management Centers are located in Argentina, Colombia, and Costa Rica, underscoring our devotion to patient safety, research, and science-based evidence support. This interaction was a reminder of the diverse and valuable contributions Latin America offers to our company and the world at large.
EF: What does your role within FIFARMA entail, and how does it influence the pharmaceutical industry in collaboration with diverse companies? How do you leverage shared platforms to drive advancements within the industry?
SA: The honor of being elected as the President of the Board of Directors of FIFARMA brings immense pride. This role involves collaboration with their Executive Director Yaneth Giha, fellow elected board members, and a wider assembly representing multinational companies and trade association leaders from our esteemed region. Our focus is to execute the FIFARMA strategy, which holds great promise. The beauty of partnership lies in our shared commitment to Latin America's well-being and healthcare transformation. Addressing challenges like intellectual property and regulatory matters through harmonization is a shared objective, reflecting our collective passion. FIFARMA's position as a non-state actor within the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) underscores our dedication to harmonizing public health goals. Pharma's role in this endeavor is pivotal, and the upcoming G20 hosted by Brazil holds special significance. Our current efforts are centered around crafting a health innovation platform, a unique venture that aligns perfectly with the region's prospects for the coming year.
EF: If you had to create a roadmap to sustainable healthcare in Latin America, what three pillars would you base your roadmap on?
SA: Innovation thrives when supported by robust data encompassing digital and real-world evidence. A notable opportunity in our region is to amplify real-world evidence, further bolstering innovation. This evidence serves as a cornerstone in enhancing and validating our innovative efforts. Addressing health financing, a vital area calls for innovative approaches. Some nations in our region need to catch up in their healthcare investment relative to more developed counterparts. Health represents an element of development and transformation for the economy, but unfortunately, Latin America still lags behind the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average in healthcare spending as a percentage of GDP (3.5 percent in our region, compared to 6.6 percent across the OECD). Exploring avenues such as social impact bonds and vaccine bonds, inspired by successful global models, opens doors to impactful innovation.
Unlocking potential entails streamlining regulatory processes. Addressing regulatory bottlenecks becomes paramount as we aim to expedite safe and regulated innovation deployment and broaden access for patients. This focus aligns with FIFARMA's determined agenda, fortified by strategic collaborations, including those with PAHO. The convergence of data, innovative financing, and regulatory reforms represents a promising future trajectory. The proactive engagement of key stakeholders propels us closer to our shared vision of healthcare transformation.
EF: What message do you have for women aspiring to pursue similar roles and careers in Latin America?
SA: My central message resonates with daring and daring to dream big. We must feel at ease expressing our aspirations, particularly as Latinas who often navigate family and professional commitments. By confidently articulating our dreams and striving towards them, support and opportunities naturally come to fruition. I am fortunate to be surrounded and supported by remarkable individuals on this journey.
To lead and excel, adaptability is key. Embracing change internally and in response to external dynamics is paramount. As leaders, navigating challenges and uncertainties necessitates this adaptable mindset. This guidance holds especially true for those aspiring to have similar roles someday.
EF: Do you have any final message you want to deliver to our readers?
SA: Latin America is a captivating, culturally vibrant realm with potential. Beyond healthcare, this diverse landscape beckons investment. My message is a resounding call for collective action—bridging the public-private gap to catalyze transformative change across the region. Let's unite to shape a promising future together.
