Women make up 51% of VaxThera’s workforce, holding leadership, research, and biological product development roles within the country.
The company is set to complete the first phase of its facility construction, which will have the capacity to produce over 100 million vaccines annually and create more than 500 new, highly skilled jobs over the next five years.
March 7, 2024 – According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the global average percentage of female researchers is 33%, while in Colombia, this figure stands at 38%. Although mathematics and physics are among the fields with the highest levels of research participation, other areas—such as biochemistry and biotechnology—have gained significant momentum in the country in recent years, primarily focused on the development of biotechnological products and medicines.
Latin America and the Caribbean have a population of over 662 million—a substantial density, especially considering that only four countries in the region (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Cuba) currently possess the capacity to develop biotechnological products for regional immunization. VaxThera was established in response to this challenge; the Colombian biotechnology company aims to foster the research, development, and production of vaccines and biological products to address future pandemics. Through the operation of its laboratory and its production and packaging plant, the company will contribute to health independence and the reindustrialization of the healthcare sector, while promoting national scientific knowledge and strengthening diversity and inclusion—all by leveraging the research potential found in Colombia and across Latin America.
Women make up 51% of the company’s workforce, contributing to research, scientific development, operations, and coordination with national and international entities to bring about the production of domestically developed biological products. “Since the company’s inception, we have believed in female leadership, which has undeniably fostered our growth, consolidation, and evolution. It is exciting to see that, three years after the launch of VaxThera, more than half of our team members are women—women who have demonstrated the expertise, effort, and commitment necessary to realize a project that will be a source of pride for all Colombians and a benchmark for the entire region,” says Jorge Emilio Osorio, CEO of VaxThera.
Among the women contributing—through a multidisciplinary approach—to the development of vaccines for health sovereignty and the strengthening of national capabilities against emerging infectious diseases are:
Madelyn Gutiérrez has been involved in the world of clinical research since the start of her professional career. A psychologist from the University of Antioquia, she holds a master’s degree in Project Management from the Universidad del Mar. She has managed clinical studies at various research centers and both national and international pharmaceutical companies, including the Neuroscience Group of Antioquia, the clinical trials center at Stanford University’s Cancer Institute, and Genentech-Roche. She currently serves as Director of Clinical Operations at VaxThera. According to Gutiérrez, “Colombia is regaining its capacity to produce vaccines, with the overarching goal of saving lives and fostering a competitive clinical development ecosystem within the country—one rooted in national science and research.”
Natalia Muñoz’s passion for science is clear. In her current role leading special projects, she oversees the design of innovative products and services intended to address public health needs and keep the organization at the forefront of shifts within the scientific and business landscape. Natalia is a professional in Microbiology and Bioanalysis, holding a Master’s degree in Basic Biomedical Sciences and a PhD in Biological Sciences. Reflecting on her experience as part of VaxThera, she notes: “Living out the higher purpose of a company like VaxThera is deeply motivating. It offers the chance to feel that we are contributing to the revitalization of Colombia—a nation that adapts to change, creates solutions through science, technology, and innovation, and is committed to building local capabilities with its own people. It is an immense responsibility, but also a source of pride to be part of this chapter of history.”
Meanwhile, Elizabeth Graciano—a microbiologist and bioanalyst from the University of Antioquia—holds a Master’s degree in Science from the University of São Paulo, as well as a Master’s degree in Vaccinology and Drug Development from the University of Siena. “It is essential for academia to promote gender equity, ensuring that more women can discover a purpose—saving lives—through research and science,” says Graciano.
While research and science are vital, a legal perspective is equally essential for a highly regulated industry—one that is currently forging a new path in Colombia through the domestic production of biological products. This is the role of Daniela Lopera, who brings extensive experience in commercial and financial law; she also leads the development of patents and intellectual property for the vaccines that will soon be produced within the country.
The creation of VaxThera was announced in 2021. Since then, the company has focused its efforts on advancing scientific knowledge and development, while strengthening partnerships with public and private entities to realize the dream of producing vaccines in Colombia. The company will complete the first phase of construction on its plant—located in Rionegro, Antioquia—which will have the capacity to produce more than 100 million vaccines annually and create over 500 new skilled jobs over the next five years.
Press contact:
Federico Amaya
[email protected]
