Angel Fernandez, president and managing director of MSD Spain and Portugal, covers the company´s current pipeline and portfolio strategy. He also explains how the company collaborate with a wide variety of stakeholders.   What is the history of MSD in the Spanish market? Overall, MSD is a company with 127 years of history. Here in Spain, the legacy of MSD began in the early 50s with a technology transfer agreement that was signed with the Spanish Company of Penicillin and Antibiotics (CEPA), the basis of what would later be the Centre of Basic Research of Spain (CIBE), which would become a full-fledged R&D centre for MSD. 50 years ago in 1968 MSD S.A. started its operations directly.   In terms of R+D+I commitment, one of our most recent developments in the Spanish market has been the birth of the MEDINA foundation. Ten years ago, all the knowledge and technology throughout MSD – part of it coming from the CIBE legacy was transferred to this public-private partnership centre of excellence in R+D+i whose mission is the discovery of biologically active molecules, drug candidates for unmet medical needs, and products of high biotechnological value for the industry.   What kind of performance has MSD experienced in Spain? What are some of the affiliates primary revenue drivers? Here at MSD we are market leaders, with 5.5 percent market share, and a #2 ranking in 2017 in Human Health. I am happy to reveal that they now rank us as holding first position. We are also recognized as very important players in the animal health, veterinary industry, holding almost 20 percent of market share and ranked as #1. In the human health industry, IMS reported EUR one billion of sales. Our strategic areas for future development and most important sectors are vaccines, oncology, specifically immune-oncology, diabetes, acute care, along with– an emerging approach to the fight against cancer that represents a real ray of hope for many patients.

"Looking at the percentage of drugs approved by the Ministry of Health and the time it takes to gain full market access, Spain falls in the more efficient side of the European markets – the situation here is not the worst nor the best, but overall still impressive"