The Americas Health Foundation Newsletter

LATEST PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

Webinar: “A Blueprint to Advancing Genomic Medicine in Latin America”

This upcoming webinar aims to drive actionable outcomes from the themes of the recent PAHO/WHO meeting on clinical genomics in Latin America. Topics will cover foundational infrastructure and educational needs, capacity building, human resources, quality assurance for genomic medicine, among others. Additionally, experts will share best practices and sustainable strategies to bridge gaps and further the implementation of genomic medicine across the region. This event will serve as a platform for stakeholder engagement, collaboration and to raise awareness on the subject. 

Featured Panelists

1. Dr. Ida Schwartz, Member of the Technical Chamber for Rare Diseases of the Brazilian Ministry of Health (Brazil)
2. Dr. Adriana Robayo, Executive Director, Colombian Institute of Health Technology Assessment, IETS  (Colombia)
3. Dr. Luis A. Quiñones, Coordinator, Latin American Network for the Implementation of Pharmacogenomic Clinical Guidelines, University of Chile (Chile)
4. Dr. Andres Moreno Estrada, Professor, Natural Laboratory of Genomics at LANGEBIO (Mexico)

ACCESSIBLE IN ENGLISH, SPANISH, AND PORTUGUESE

REGISTER NOW (at no cost)

Survey: Migraine Patient Survey LATAM

AHF is preparing a survey focused on understanding and increasing awareness of migraine from a patient perspective. The survey will explore and generate qualitative data on their experiences regarding the diagnostic challenges, symptoms, impact on quality of life, psychological effects, impact on work and productivity, the role of social support, healthcare access and satisfaction, educational and advocacy needs, among other topics. 

LATEST PUBLICATIONS

New Article Published: “Recommendations for Interchangeability in a Growing Biosimilar Market in Latin America”

AHF’s new publication in Advances in Therapy highlights provides clear information on biosimilar interchangeability and biosimilar adoption across Latin America. Authored by Gilberto Castañeda Hernández, Manuel Antonio Espinoza, Luis Eduardo Pino Villarreal, and Bianca Schiavetti, alongside AHF board members Enrique Teran, Valderilio Azevedo, and Vice President/Regional Medical Director Mariana Rico, this article underscores the need for robust frameworks to support biosimilar uptake and patient safety.

Access the full manuscript here.

Publication Announcement: “Latin American Challenges and Recommendations for Poly Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose Polymerase Inhibitor Treatment in Metastatic Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer”

Published in Cancer Control, this expert review resulted from a three-day meeting organized by AHF, where leading oncologists and pathologists discussed key strategies to improve care for prostate cancer patients in Latin America. The article emphasizes precision medicine and genotyping to guide treatment, while also addressing the need for expanded infrastructure, accessible genetic testing, and collaborative efforts to reduce the high costs of innovative therapies.

Congratulations to the authors, including Rodolfo Borges dos Reis, MD, PhD, Jose Luis Aguilar Ponce, MD, Federico Cayol, MD, MSc, Angela Jansen, PhD, MHS, Ray Manneh Kopp, MD, MSc, Tomas Merino Lara, MD, Gayatri Sanku, PhD, MPH, Laura Vaca, MD, Pedro Isaacsson Velho, MD, and Ernesto Korbenfeld, MD.

Access the full manuscript here.

UPCOMING INITIATIVES 2024-2025

• Task Force: Improving Vaccination Uptake in Latin America
• Task Force: Shaping the Environment for Healthcare Innovation in Latin America
• Awareness Campaign: Highlighting the Value of Nuclear Medicine
• Consensus Conferences on Cutting-Edge Therapies: Covering topics from CAR-T therapy to bispecific therapies for hematologic conditions, these meetings aim to bring multi-stakeholder perspectives and actionable recommendations for Latin America 

EVENTS HIGHLIGHTS

2nd Congress on Rare Diseases for Latin America and the Caribbean

Led by AHF, and co-hosted by FECOER, ERCAL, and Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, The 2nd Congress on Rare Diseases for Latin America brought together key stakeholders to discuss critical challenges and opportunities in rare disease policy, treatment, and innovation. Over two days, the event featured a series of panels that covered a wide range of topics, including public policy frameworks, global legislative practices, patient-centered care, and research initiatives.

Participants explored the importance of establishing comprehensive public policies for rare diseases, emphasizing the need for greater regional collaboration, political will, and international cooperation to incorporate rare diseases into national health agendas. Regulatory frameworks and best practices were also highlighted, focusing on accelerating access to treatments and fostering innovation.

Discussions underscored the critical role of patient advocacy, multidisciplinary care, and the involvement of reference centers in improving diagnosis, treatment, and care coordination. Speakers stressed the need to prioritize equity in healthcare access and to view innovation as an investment in the future of rare disease care.

The congress concluded with a collective call for continued collaboration among governments, healthcare providers, patients, and the private sector to ensure that rare disease patients in Latin America receive timely and equitable access to diagnosis, treatment, and care.

Learn more about the event here. 

World Orphan Drug Congress Europe 2024 

Following a successful Rare Disease Congress, AHF attended – as a supporting partner – the World Orphan Drug Congress Europe 2024, where innovators, researchers, and advocates gathered to explore rare disease policy and broaden access to treatment. This event showcased breakthroughs and facilitated new partnerships that will impact the rare disease space.

Learn more about the event here.

World Vaccine Congress Europe 2024

AHF was a proud partner at the World Vaccine Congress in Barcelona, where we focused on expanding the reach of our Vaccines Beat newsletter and advancing global vaccination efforts. This year’s Congress featured extensive discussions on mRNA technology, new adjuvants, and global vaccine equity. We look forward to further collaboration at next year’s Congress in Washington, D.C.

Stay connected through Vaccines Beat.

Thank you for your continued support in advancing healthcare policy and access across underserviced regions. Let’s stay in contact and continue to collaborate.