Pathways to Access: Aligning Rare Disease Drug Strategies in Latin America

The Latin America rare diseases treatment market shows strong growth potential from USD 42.7 billion in 2025 to USD 95.6 billion by 2031 at a 14.2% CAGR, driven by rising prevalence, genomics advances, and regulatory incentives

SWOT Analysis

Strengths Weaknesses
Large treatment-naïve population (664 million people) enables fast clinical trial recruitment and diverse ethnic representation Limited incentives for orphan drug production lead to low industry interest in patents and commercialization
Supportive policies like fast-track approvals and market exclusivity boost investment Stringent cost-effectiveness thresholds (e.g., Brazil’s 3x GDP per capita/QALY) hinder therapy incorporation
Growing biopharma focus on gene therapies and precision medicine High costs of therapies
Small patient populations
Complex regulatory landscape
Low awareness and infrastructure gaps
Opportunities Threats
Regional partnerships for research, tax exemptions, and customs waivers can accelerate orphan drug access Affordability & reimbursement challenges
Expansion of digital diagnostics, AI, and patient advocacy to prioritize treatments Regulatory fragmentation across countries
Emerging market advantages like lower trial competition Persistent infrastructure limitations
Uncertain access and adoption pathways
Price controls and centralized purchasing limit budget for high-cost therapies
Reimbursement challenges and price sensitivity constrain pricing power