Summary
In this episode of Driving the Business of Science, Keith Parent, CEO of Court Square Group interviews Sara Tylosky, CEO of Farmacon Global, about the Latin American market for clinical trials. Farmacon Global, a strategic partner with a network of physicians, focuses on rare diseases, oncology, and immunology in Latin America. Sara highlights the region’s diversity, cost savings, and fast recruitment, noting that Latin America represents 0.7% of global phase 1 studies but has a population of more than 660 million and 30+ qualified sites. She addresses misconceptions about slow recruitment and regulatory issues, emphasizing the region’s alignment with international guidelines and the potential for collaboration with CROs. Farmacon Global aims to expand its phase 1 research opportunities and educate biotechs on the region’s benefits.
Interested in learning more about clinical trials in Latin America?
WEBINAR: Early Clinical Trials in LATAM: A Sustainable Data Strategy
September 18, 2025. 12 Noon EST
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Introduction and Overview of Court Square Group
- Keith Parent introduces himself as the CEO of Court Square Group, a managed service firm specializing in managing infrastructure for life science companies.
- The Driving the Business of Science podcast aims to explore innovative practices in the industry and features guests who are doing unique things.
- Keith introduces Sara Tylosky, CEO of Farmacon Global, to discuss the Latin American market from a CEO and CRO perspective.
- Sara Tylosky introduces herself and explains that Farmacon Global is a strategic partner with a network of physicians, focusing on Latin America and rare diseases.
Farmacon Global’s Focus on Latin America
- Sara explains that Farmacon Global has a presence in the United States but focuses primarily on Latin America.
- The company works with smaller biotechs to help them get started and assists larger pharmas in rescuing situations, often related to enrollment or regulatory challenges.
- Keith recalls meeting Sara at an ADDF event in Boston and discusses the significant work Farmacon Global is doing in Latin America.
- Sara highlights the diversity of Latin America, which is crucial for clinical trials, and mentions the region’s potential for conducting early phase
Misconceptions About Latin America
- Keith and Sara discuss common misconceptions about Latin America, such as thinking it consists only of rural populations and jungles.
- Sara emphasizes the sophistication of the medical community in major cities like Mexico City and Sao Paulo as large urban centers.
- Sara shares examples of companies Farmacon Global has worked with, including a recent approval for a liver condition product.
- Keith and Sara discuss the misconceptions about slow recruitment, logistical issues, and IND filing in Latin America, which is not necessary to conduct early phase trials.
- Enrollment is always so fast and so strong that often there are FDA audits and that could be perceived as a negative, when in fact, it shows strong enrollment!
Advantages of Conducting Early Phase Trials in Latin America
- Sara explains the cost advantages of conducting trials in Latin America, which are about 30-60% less than in the US, Europe, or Australia.
- The region offers fast recruitment due to large cities and treatment-naive patients.
- Sara mentions the regulatory improvements and alignment with international guidelines, making Latin America a viable alternative to other regions.
- Keith and Sara discuss the importance of time zones and the alignment with the US East Coast, which facilitates communication and coordination.
Farmacon Global’s Strategic Partnership and Site Engagement
- Sara explains Farmacon Global’s approach of being a strategic partner rather than just a CRO.
- The company has a network of experienced physicians and sites, which helps in engaging with sites and overcoming challenges.
- Sara highlights the importance of site engagement, where medical leads maintain regular communication with principal investigators (PIs) to address any issues.
- Farmacon Global ensures that clinical sites have the necessary infrastructure and support for conducting trials.
Sara Tylosky’s Background and Farmacon Global’s Name
- Sara shares her background in marketing and pharma, including her experience with GlaxoSmithKline.
- She moved to Mexico to be closer to her parents and found the cultural diversity fascinating.
- The name Farmacon Global is a play on words, combining “pharma” with “farm” and “global” to reflect the company’s focus on plant-based studies and emerging markets.
- Sara discusses the company’s expansion into India and Africa to provide better representation in clinical trials.
Challenges and Opportunities in Latin America
- Sara discusses the challenges of getting big pharma companies to consider Latin America, such as the lack of sharing among doctors and the perception of fast enrollment leading to data issues.
- She emphasizes the respect doctors have in Latin America and the high retention rates of patients in clinical trials.
- Sara highlights the potential for Latin America to become a key player in global clinical trials due to its diversity and innovative technology.
- Keith and Sara discuss the importance of educating biotechs about the benefits of conducting trials in Latin America.
Future of Latin America in Global Clinical Trials
- Sara shares her vision for Farmacon Global to expand its phase one research opportunities in Latin America.
- She mentions the high number of biotechs in the US and the need for funding and trial sites.
- Sara discusses the potential for collaboration with CROs from Australia to leverage Latin America’s patient population and diversity.
- Keith and Sara discuss the importance of addressing misconceptions and educating the industry about the quality and potential of Latin America.
Conclusion and Final Thoughts
- Keith and Sara discuss the importance of niche areas in the life science industry and the role of companies like Farmacon Global in educating biotechs.
- Sara mentions an upcoming webinar on sustainable data strategy and encourages biotechs to consider Latin America for phase one trials.
- Keith thanks Sara for the insightful conversation and looks forward to seeing her at upcoming conferences.
- The Driving the Business of Science podcast aims to open minds to different areas within the life science world and share knowledge and fascination with the audience.