BeiGene CEO on Latin American expansion: 'We are excited about the opportunity to serve patients in this critical region of the world'

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John V. Oyler, BeiGene | LinkedIn | John V. Oyler

BeiGene recently made a significant advancement in its Latin American expansion, opening its newest office in São Paulo, Brazil, a press release reported. The new establishment will be led by a team of administrative, commercial and clinical operations experts.

“Expanding our global footprint into LATAM advances BeiGene’s global growth and commitment to providing affordable and accessible medicines to more patients around the world,” John V. Oyler, chairman, co-founder and CEO at BeiGene, said. “Our office in São Paulo is the first step in a planned broader expansion in LATAM, and we are excited about the opportunity to serve patients in this critical region of the world.”

The expansion follows BeiGene’s tislelizumab submission, a variation of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy intended to treat non-small cell lung cancer and esophageal cancer, to Brazil’s National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa). 

The center will also work to further boost BeiGene’s clinical trial development program, which has enrolled 20,000 patients across 45 markets so far. The company is currently awaiting approval from local authorities to begin rolling patients in Brazil for 12 ongoing global clinical trials, including “pivotal and registrational studies, for tislelizumab and BTK inhibitor BRUKINSA as well as multiple investigational therapies, including TIGIT inhibitor ociperlimab, BCL-2 inhibitor BGB-11417 and first-in-class OX40 agonist BGB-A445,” a recent press release stated.

BeiGene also confirmed plans to expand to other LATAM regions, including Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay and other countries. With administrative offices in Basel, Beijing and Cambridge, Massachusetts, the company counts with the support of a global team of more than 9,000 colleagues spanning five continents.

“As the largest market in LATAM with significant unmet need, Brazil represents a crucial foothold in the global fight against cancer,” Alex Carvalho, general manager of Brazil at BeiGene, said. “We are excited to build our presence here in Brazil as we continue to develop and deliver highly innovative medicines for patients.”