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Meeting Highlights:
- Roche´s legacy: Roche has built a strong 77-year legacy in Mexico, driven by continuous innovation and a deep commitment to addressing the country’s most pressing healthcare challenges. The company delivers impactful solutions for prevalent diseases in oncology, neurosciences, and more, ensuring long-term benefits for Mexican patients.
- Access beyond availability: Roche’s access strategy isn’t just about availability—it’s about removing barriers across the entire care pathway, partnering with health systems, and ensuring that innovation reaches those who need it most in the most meaningful way.
- Investing in Mexico’s future: Mexico is a priority investment site for Roche’s clinical research. Last year, they invested more than 500 million pesos and launched 68 clinical trials in the country. And if the regulatory conditions are optimal, there is the possibility of increasing this figure in the next six years.
- Local research for local needs: Roche plans to bring clinical studies on CVM to Mexico, a condition that represents a huge burden on Mexicans and healthcare systems. This local research builds on the diabetes prevention and monitoring strategies already implemented by their diagnostics division and the diabetic macular edema treatment launched in the country two years ago.
- Powering progress through digital transformation: Roche views digital transformation as a critical enabler of efficiency and health system improvement. The industry can drive value-based healthcare by leveraging tracked data, ensuring better patient outcomes and more sustainable healthcare solutions.
- Leadership through curiosity and inclusion: Curiosity is a virtue. Leaders must embrace continuous learning and diverse perspectives to drive meaningful progress. A strong, inclusive workplace culture fosters innovation, and the right team enables a company to thrive.
EF: What attracted you to this position in Mexico, and what is your mission for this country?
MS: What drew me to the challenge of leading in Mexico is the immense opportunity to build on our legacy in a country that is going through a significant transformation in which health has become a public priority. Roche has been a key player here for 77 years, with a 127-year global history. We take pride in shaping Mexico’s healthcare success and see great potential to benefit both patients and the healthcare system further.
Of course, there are challenges. Mexico, like many other countries in Latin America, is dealing with high rates of cardiovascular diseases, various types of cancer — including breast, lung, liver, and some hematological cancers — and a significant burden of preventable disabilities, such as blindness due to diabetic macular edema, joint damage caused by hemophilia, or persistent motor dysfunction resulting from multiple sclerosis. All of these disabilities can be prevented with timely diagnosis and treatment. These challenges make our work all the more compelling.
As one of the most populous countries, Mexico presents significant opportunities to drive meaningful healthcare advancements. Its growing strategic importance is reflected in the strong focus and support we receive from our headquarters in Basel.
EF: How do you balance innovation with affordability, pricing, and access? How is Roche adapting its new access strategy to Mexico’s healthcare challenges?
MS: We are aligned with the government’s healthcare priorities, focusing on oncology and women’s health—especially breast cancer. We are advancing treatments for hormone receptor-positive tumors while improving existing therapies. One of our recent innovations reduces infusion time from hours to just 8 minutes with a subcutaneous injection, benefiting both patients and the healthcare system by enabling decentralized care, improving efficiency, and lowering costs.
Despite challenges like fragmentation, we see a government committed to achieving greater access, delivering quality care, and ensuring equity in healthcare access. Moreover, decentralization and improved secondary care are key areas in which we can make a significant contribution. We have already introduced solutions that enhance the efficiency of the health system and improve patient's quality of life in oncology and ophthalmology. We plan to do the same for multiple sclerosis. Ultimately, our goal is to expand access and deliver tangible benefits to patients across Mexico.
EF: What are the first steps in transitioning Mexico’s healthcare system toward prevention?
MS: Transitioning Mexico’s healthcare system toward prevention requires a strategic, multi-sectoral approach—anchored in policy, education, infrastructure, and financing. It sounds challenging, but the good news is that all the stakeholders involved (government, industry, medical societies, academia, patients, etc.) are giving clear signs of moving in that direction. Prevention is critical for healthcare sustainability and patient well-being. Roche is investing heavily in education, raising awareness about early symptoms, and developing digital healthcare solutions to detect diseases at earlier stages.
Early detection is especially vital in oncology. In breast and lung cancer, identifying cases sooner leads to more effective treatments and better outcomes. Our efforts also extend to ophthalmology, a growing focus area for Roche. We recently introduced the first bispecific antibody designed for the eye for people living with age-related macular degeneration and macular edema—one of the most prevalent complications of diabetes in Mexico. Addressing diabetes-related vision loss requires both prevention and improved screening.
We are also working on solutions that enhance the entire patient journey, integrating technology from prevention and diagnosis to treatment and remote monitoring. Digital tools will allow us to track patient progress and improve long-term care.
We see significant opportunities in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases—two of Mexico’s most pressing healthcare challenges. We are about to bring several clinical trials to Mexico in these areas because we genuinely believe that improving patient outcomes in these areas will also contribute to the long-term sustainability of the healthcare system.
EF: How does Mexico contribute to Roche’s global R&D strategy? Why is it a key investment location, and what impact will this development have globally?
MS: Roche is a global leader in R&D—not just in pharma but across industries. Last year, we invested over 13 billion Swiss francs in research and development, which accounted for more than 20% of our sales for that year. This underscores our deep commitment to innovation.
Mexico is becoming a key focus for our investments. Last year, only in R&D, we invested more than 500 million pesos and conducted 68 clinical trials, making us the leading company running clinical studies in the country. A major milestone is our expansion into phase one trials, a capability only a few countries possess. Establishing early-stage research in Mexico is a significant step forward. Even so, it demonstrates the expertise of the Mexican researchers and their institutions and proves the immense potential of the country to become a regional clinical research hub.
We aim to invest 4000 million pesos by 2030, provided we have regulatory stability and timely approvals. Currently, Mexico contributes approximately 2% of global clinical trial recruitment; however, the potential is far greater. We are encouraged by the government’s recognition of clinical research as a priority and its push to attract investment. Partnering with government agencies and stakeholders will help position Mexico as a hub for innovation, benefiting patients, the healthcare system, and the global scientific community.
EF: How do you see AI and data revolutionizing healthcare? How would you rate the adoption level in Mexico?
MS: At Roche, technology is a core driver of advancement. Innovation is not just about new solutions but about collaborating with stakeholders to push the boundaries of science and technology. We use technology to improve efficiency in clinical trials, develop predictive and triage algorithms, and facilitate data analysis, among others. A strong pillar of this transformation will be digital health solutions, telemedicine, and AI-driven analytics. We are fully committed to collaborating in ways that benefit both the healthcare system and patients.
Mexico is on a similar path. The government is prioritizing healthcare digitalization, recognizing its potential to improve efficiency and patient care. For example, value-based healthcare models have been discussed for a long time, but progress has been slow due to a lack of data and effective outcome tracking. However, with robust digital systems, the Mexican government creates optimal conditions for this transition, increasing access and sustainability. Data is crucial for optimizing resources and improving health outcomes.
EF: What skills and mindsets do you seek when recruiting for Roche? What do you offer to professionals joining your team?
MS: Roche operates in a highly dynamic and innovative environment, requiring its employees to possess key capabilities such as curiosity, a collaborative mindset, and a strong ambition to drive improvements, particularly in patient outcomes.
We are deeply committed to employee growth, offering learning pathways that help develop key competencies. Leadership at Roche is about empowerment and decentralization—each country understands its unique challenges and has the autonomy to drive initiatives aligned with our global vision. Leaders support and guide their teams, ensuring they reach their full potential.
At its core, Roche is driven by a clear purpose: doing now what patients need next. We are dedicated to continuous innovation, expanding access, and working with stakeholders to deliver timely treatments. This commitment is embedded in our culture, fostering a work environment where employees feel a strong sense of purpose and dedication.
EF: Could you share your favorite initiative that goes beyond medication and demonstrates Roche’s commitment to Mexican society?
MS: Collaboration is at the heart of innovation—true progress comes from working with others, whether in academia or beyond. This mindset is also deeply embedded in our approach in Mexico.
We are proud to be a leading advocate for research, exemplified by the Rosenkranz Prize, which has supported scientific advancement in Mexico for over 40 years. This initiative has served as a vital platform for funding research and supporting projects that contribute to scientific advancement. Through initiatives like this, Roche continues to promote science, support basic research, and foster a thriving knowledge ecosystem in healthcare.
EF: What key lessons from your international experience can be adapted to Mexico, adding value to the country and strengthening your commitment to Roche?
MS: One of the most important lessons I have learned is the importance of curiosity. In leadership, maintaining a mindset of continuous learning and adaptability is essential. Staying open to new ideas and recognizing that there is always more to discover drives both personal and professional growth.
Another key learning is the significance of diversity and inclusion. Understanding different perspectives provides a broader, more comprehensive view of challenges and opportunities. As a leader, success is not achieved alone—it is built through strong teams. Taking care of people and fostering a positive, inclusive culture is fundamental. Ultimately, every achievement I have had is the result of the incredible teams I have been part of.
EF: What accomplishments will you celebrate after completing your first year as General Manager?
MS: We take great pride in our role as a government partner in healthcare, working together to bring innovative medicines that can genuinely transform communities. Our team has dedicated significant effort to this mission, and while there is still work to be done, we are encouraged by the progress we are seeing.
