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Bayer’s CEO in Spain and Portugal says the day gene therapies stop focusing on treatment to cure is coming soon.
The CEO was born in 1973 in Mexico City. He has served as Bayer’s chief executive for Spain and Portugal since 2018. The company saw 7% growth in Spain last year, powered by gene and cell therapies in health and by more sustainable products in food. The executive acknowledges the challenges posed by current uncertainty.
– Given that medicines operate in a regulated market, price increases require government approval. How is the pharmaceutical sector, and Bayer specifically, responding to inflation?
-The moment is difficult. We face a geopolitical crisis, a strained supply chain, rising raw material costs, and broad inflation. We cannot push price hikes onto patients. It is important to highlight that the pharmaceutical sector shows strong solidarity and helps sustain health systems. In return, the industry expects eventual price reviews that support earlier patient access to medicines.
-What concrete steps should be taken?
-Many agencies struggle to protect profit margins after the pandemic. Spain uses a reference price system that currently drives price cuts as new medicines are assessed. One proposal from the industry is to allow essential and strategic medicines to leave the reference price ranking, recognizing disruptive or incremental innovation, or medicines deemed essential for the country. If approved, this would reduce the ongoing price-cut cycle and help maintain healthier competitiveness, ensuring medicines stay accessible without threatening supply chains.
In Spain, a typical drug approval timeline runs about 15 months on average.
– Sometimes it takes even longer. Openness, clarity, and predictability are crucial, and the industry is working toward those aims. Collaboration with the central government is underway to craft a strategic plan that broadens early access to innovations for Spanish patients while aligning with broader European progress.
-How does Spain’s margin compare with other nations?
-Margins depend on the country. For example, in Germany a medicine can be on the market the day after European approval. Spain trails behind many leading European economies in this area, yet it is a European leader in clinical research and has the potential to lead in access and speed to emerging therapies.
“Any strategic drug should see a price review”
There have been shortages of some medicines widely used by patients. Could incidents rise?
-Bayer maintains close coordination with the Spanish Medicines Agency. When shortages risk emerges, the company reports it and acts to stabilize supply. A consistent market presence has been maintained for years.
How vital is biotechnology for the industry’s future?
-Biotechnology is pivotal. It is poised to redefine possibilities in medicine. Bayer places itself at the frontier with its cell and gene therapy platform. The company supports what it terms a biorevolution, aiming to move from merely treating to actually curing. This shift could transform diseases that currently have limited options. For instance, cures for previously intractable conditions like hepatitis C are now available, and research is advancing in Parkinson’s disease to restore function through innovative strategies.
The Spanish government intends to position the country as a hub for pharmaceutical production. What steps are essential on this path?
-A clear, predictable framework is needed so companies can invest with confidence and improve patient access to medicines at the same time.
-What role does Bayer play in this scenario?
-Bayer maintains production facilities for both human health and agriculture and continually upgrades its infrastructure. A recent 60 million euro investment at the Alcalá de Henares facility in Madrid reinforces this commitment, along with expansions at the La Felguera site in Asturias. These investments underscore the company’s ongoing leadership in both production and innovation, earning recognition through the Propharma program. Bayer remains dedicated to this strategic direction.
What impact will European funds have in these areas?
-PERTEs are viewed as valuable tools to attract European funds. They are expected to drive real momentum in Spain’s health and food sectors. Bayer supported a plan involving 40 companies and around 1.8 billion euros, though concrete steps are still developing.
Bayer is boosting its investment in agricultural research and development by more than 19%. Which new tools do farmers gain, and what will they buy to foster sustainable growth?
-Three strategic pillars guide Bayer’s approach. First, crop protection with a mix of chemical and biological solutions. Second, high-value seeds that improve tolerance to drought and wind. Third, digital tools that enable smarter farming decisions. Precision farming and FieldView use satellite and sensor data to monitor fields in real time and target actions precisely where needed. This approach protects the environment, reduces CO2 emissions, and makes field investments more efficient.
What new drugs are expected to reach the market in 2023?
-Among them is a recent launch for symptomatic chronic heart failure. Kerendia, a treatment for type 2 diabetes-related chronic kidney disease, is anticipated to enter the market this year based on price-return considerations. It addresses a condition affecting a large portion of the population. Additional indications for a prostate cancer treatment are in development, and talks with authorities continue to bring Entrectinib, an oncology drug with pediatric indications and broad tumor agnosticism, to market.
Related themes
-What are Bayer’s short-term growth pillars?
Innovation and science drive growth across Pharmaceuticals, Consumer Health, and Herbal Science, ensuring innovations reach a wide range of sectors.
“Meeting a growing population and tackling volatility head-on”
The company expects softer operating profits in 2023 due to rising costs. How might this affect Spain?
-The focus is on building efficient infrastructure and energy-saving programs, water stewardship, and a circular economy. These steps aim for long-term sustainability and resilience.
Are there notable achievements on the radar for 2023?
-Bayer constantly scans for opportunities. When a solid one appears, it is pursued with determination.
-What are the main future challenges?
Addressing a growing population while natural resources shrink will require more medicines and food. The environment remains volatile, with crises occurring more frequently. Flexibility and quick adaptation will be essential to navigate these realities.