To help biopharmaceutical companies enter the rapidly growing Brazilian biopharmaceutical market, Quintiles has opened its Global Commercial Solutions business in Brazil, offering customized sales forces, market penetration strategies and product solutions.

The move into Brazil is part of Quintiles' strategy to help biopharma companies expand into growing emerging markets while managing costs and risk. Quintiles recently expanded the business into Russia and into the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Brazil is the world's fifth most populous country, with a population of about 205 million and a biopharmaceutical market valued at $17.1 billion.

Leading the business in Brazil will be general manager Vera Valente, based in Sao Paulo. Most recently, Valente was a director at Interfarma (the Brazilian Pharmaceutical Research Companies Association), where she was responsible for the innovation program and the market access group.

"Brazil is an increasingly important and growing commercial market, and we're eager to help our customers enter this market in a way that manages risks and increases the probability of success," said James Featherstone, senior vice president of global commercial solutions for Quintiles.

"Brazil undoubtedly represents a huge untapped opportunity for the biopharmaceutical industry,” said Valente. “However, as with any new market, there are challenges.”