Turning Regional Strengths into Global Impact: The Growth of LATAM Clinical Trials

In this episode of Moving Medicine Forward, we speak with CTI Founder & CEO Tim Schroeder and Managing Director of Latin America Jaqueline Aguiar about the region’s scientific strength, evolving regulatory landscape, exceptional patient retention, and growing role in rare disease and advanced therapies. They share real‑world examples of record‑speed approvals, high‑quality data, and the cultural dynamics that make LATAM a uniquely powerful environment for clinical trials. A must‑listen for anyone involved in global development or curious about the future of research in emerging markets. 01:22 Why LATAM is a strategic hub: scientific capability, cost efficiency, patient diversity, centralized healthcare, and increasingly fast regulatory timelines.03:32 Tim on LATAM’s standout strengths — exceptional data quality, major specialty centers, and cost‑effective trial execution.05:15 CTI’s expansion in the region: driven by rare disease needs, global sponsor demand, and Jaclyn’s leadership building a resilient LATAM infrastructure.08:04 How LATAM supported global studies during COVID‑19and the ongoing complexities of logistics, sample transport, and country‑specific operations.10:11 Significant regulatory acceleration across Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, and Chile — including <60‑day approvals forcomplex studies.14:20 The role of CTI’s passionate teams and strong site relationships; unique investigator engagement in São Paulo.18:38 Ethics committees’ central role in patient safety and informed consent; LATAM’s readiness for decentralized and hybrid trials.22:14 Emerging local pharma capabilities and cultural factors influencing trial participation, including trust‑based doctor‑patient relationships.25:15 LATAM as a global talent hub; future accelerators include digital harmonization, technology adoption, and better global awareness of the region’s capabilities.