We rank among the top six companies in the Latin American pharmaceutical market, according to data from IQVIA.

In March, Zodiac Laboratories, which has been operating in Brazil for 32 years, announced that it will adopt the name Adium in 2023, as will Nolver Uruguay, which will do the same starting in June, in line with its parent group. Adium, founded in 1975, initially focused on the Southern Cone (Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Bolivia) before expanding to 17 Latin American countries, including Brazil and Mexico. Among the Adium group’s most notable corporate news is the representation agreement with Moderna for the distribution throughout Latin America of SPIKEVAX, the vaccine developed by Moderna against SARS-CoV-2. We spoke with Patricia Beiro, Vice President of Corporate Operations at Adium Pharma, about the future of the pharmaceutical industry in Latin America.

They operate in 17 countries and have become a leader in the pharmaceutical industry. How did Adium get started? What is the core of the business?

At Adium, we are dedicated to the development, manufacturing, and marketing of pharmaceutical products in Latin America. We have a presence throughout the region, with more than 6,000 employees. The company has two main business units: General Medicine and OLE (Oncology and Rare Diseases). We have a portfolio of generic drugs under our own brand, as well as our own innovative products and licensed products. By “licensed,” I mean that we sign licensing agreements with multinational biotechnology companies—global leaders—who choose us as strategic partners to distribute their products in Latin America. Among them are Moderna, with the COVID vaccine, Astellas, Seagen, Eli Lilly, Amgen, and others. We rank among the top six in the Latin American pharmaceutical market, according to IQVIA data. The group has more than 240 molecules in its portfolio, 5 manufacturing facilities in the region, and produces over 100 million units annually.

In March, Zodiac, its Brazilian subsidiary, was renamed Adium. What impact do you anticipate the brand consolidation will have in the region?

The rebranding in Brazil was a milestone for Adium. One of our strategic goals is to grow in that market. That is why it was the first country among the group’s companies in the region to adopt the Adium brand as its official name. In the other countries, we also plan to identify the group with the brand in the future. Today we are well-known within the medical community, but under different names. The idea of being recognized throughout Latin America means being identified and recognized as part of the same group—which is very important given the quality of our products, our professionalism, and our focus on patients’ quality of life.

The global pharmaceutical industry has experienced exponential growth in recent decades. Its scope continues to expand, shifting from traditional manufacturing and trade to a significant market for licenses and patents. How do you see the future of the industry in Latin America?

We believe that the pharmaceutical sector will continue to grow in Latin America and around the world, driven by population growth, an aging population, increased access to healthcare, and technological innovation.

At Adium, our mission is to be a leading pharmaceutical company in Latin America where our employees can develop and grow without limits. We also aim to provide doctors and patients with innovative treatments and contribute to the development of the communities where we operate. Furthermore, we prioritize the development of our own products as well as expanding agreements with licensors, as Adium is considered a partner of choice for innovative companies that want to make their products available to patients in Latin America.

How do you approach your business operations in the region from this perspective?

In recent years, some multinational companies have withdrawn from the market. This trend is creating opportunities that we are interested in pursuing, thereby ensuring that these treatments remain available to all patients in Latin America.

Technological innovation has become a driving force behind the economy and quality of life. How is technological transformation being integrated into the pharmaceutical industry?

Technological advancements in the pharmaceutical industry have led to the development of more effective and personalized treatments for patients. Today, the development and production of medications are more efficient thanks to more robust and repeatable processes.

Adium is embarking on a digital transformation process to assess how technology can be integrated into our future growth. For example, by purchasing more modern equipment, we can make significant strides in environmental issues; the effective use of water and energy efficiency are made possible by digitalization. We also have policies in place regarding the use of renewable energy and the measurement of our carbon footprint.

What advantages does Uruguay offer for attracting investment and developing exports in the life sciences sector?

Among all the countries in Latin America, Uruguay is one of the most politically and economically stable. It also boasts a highly favorable regulatory and legal framework. Uruguay is a reasonable and predictable destination for foreign investment. In this regard, the legal certainty the country offers is key for investors. Uruguay also provides a highly skilled workforce, thanks to its educated population and high level of technical expertise.

What operations do you have in Montevideo?

Our headquarters are located here in Uruguay. The local subsidiary operates under the name Nolver (it will change its name to Adium in June) and is the youngest subsidiary in the group. At ZONAMERICA, we have a primary and secondary packaging facility. We are also developing a logistics hub on the campus. These operations are very important to us because, as both a hub and a packaging facility, we have greater flexibility to respond to changes in demand across countries.

What accounts for this flexibility in response?

At ZONAMERICA, we can tailor our products to meet each country’s regulations. As you can imagine, the pharmaceutical industry is highly regulated. So, by having a hub here, we can be closer to our customers. We’ve been based at ZONAMERICA for over 25 years. We’ve been strategic partners all these years. We’ve worked and grown together.

What benefits does the park offer for the development of the pharmaceutical industry?

The ability to work closely with ZONAMERICA whenever we need to optimize our processes. For example, in 2019, when a regulation was issued allowing companies to obtain derived certificates of origin, our collaboration with Zonamerica made us the first company in Uruguay to take advantage of this benefit. These examples encourage us to work together and explore ways to streamline all our operations in Uruguay.

It’s great to have a strategic partner. We don’t just see ZONAMERICA as a service provider; we consider them our partners. We have an open dialogue and are always willing to work together. I think it’s remarkable to see their commitment to continuous improvement—how they explore our needs as clients and how ZONAMERICA can help us meet those needs.

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