About Us

LEADERSHIP

Stuart Wright

Managing Partner

Mr. Wright is a co-founder of WESSX and a proven leader with over 35 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. He has specific expertise in design and implementation of business systems, functional and general management and product development. Stuart is an industry leader with almost 2 decades of experience in the management of consulting companies. He has been a member of several biotech management teams and is regularly sought out to provide expert advice to Health Agencies on a number of initiatives.

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Mr. Wright’s expertise is founded upon his contribution to large and small pharmaceutical companies, both in North America and Europe. His background includes experience with innovative and generic companies and with many therapeutic indications and dosage forms.

Silvia Bendiner

Executive Partner

Ms. Bendiner is a senior team lead with over 30 years of life sciences experience, including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, generics, nutraceuticals, nutritional supplements, translational therapy, herbal medicines and biologics.

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Silvia provides oversight of the WESSX consultancy network in Latin America. Her experience in Regulatory Affairs, Market Access and Reimbursement in the region is invaluable as is her extensive network of collaborators and Key Opinion Leaders in a variety of therapeutic areas.

Her leadership role in the ongoing harmonization of regulatory pathways provides her with unprecedented access to health agency regulators and the current direction of regulatory thinking in the region.

She is fluent in English, Spanish, Italian and German with excellent conversational skills in French and Portuguese.

WESSX PARTNERS

Dr. José Vicente Coto Ugarte

Principal Advisor Government Affairs

With 15 years of experience leading government institutions and 7 years as Advisor to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Coto led the regulatory strengthening process across the Americas working closely with National Regulatory Agencies and Ministries.

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Dr. Coto was founder and Director of the National Drug Directorate of El Salvador. During his tenure, he worked closely with Central American governments strengthening regional efforts.

In his official role at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Coto participated in the implementation of the WHO Global Assessment Tool (GBT) encompassing self-assessments, formulation, monitoring of institutional development programs across the Central American countries.

As WESSX Principal Advisor, Government Affairs, Dr. Coto serves as a strategic advisor and expert on policy and government relations overseeing a broad portfolio of government and public health key stakeholders both in Central America and the rest of the Latin American region.
Dr. Coto is a physician with specialty in general surgery. His professional acumen is enhanced by a series of Master’s degrees as follows: Risk Management; Health Regulation of Biological and Biotechnological Products, Financial Management and Public Health, University Administration and Teaching, Business Intelligence & Data Management.

Dr. Rodolfo Rosas Ramos

Dr. Rosas has held several corporate positions as Regional Head, Country Manager and Business Leader with P&L responsibilities, strong team building, leadership skills, entrepreneurial spirit and strategic business orientation with over three decades of expertise in Medical, Corporate Affairs, Commercial & Market Access.

As WESSX partner and Director of AkcessMed / Gelingen Chemie in Mexico City, Dr. Rosas leads a multidisciplinary team experienced Market Access (Private and Government), Commercial, Regulatory, Medical and Corporate Affairs implementing novel strategies for healthcare technologies and start-ups. Main areas of expertise: Oncology and Rare Diseases.

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Dr. Rosas has held positions as General Manager at GBT Grupo Biotoscana in Mexico City and Market Access Director at Grupo Fármacos Especializados. During his 13+ years of tenure at Novartis, Dr. Rosas held several positions as: Executive Director – Market Access – Oncology Head LatAm Region (Novartis, USA). Responsiblities:Government Sales for NCE Product Inclusion and Reimbursement.
As Regional LATAM Unit Head Dr. Rosas coordinated the Marketing/Sales Strategy teams – Mature Products Business Unit (core responsibilities accounted 60% of the total Pharma Business).

Novartis (Mexico): Dr. Rosas lead the Public Affairs and Corporate Communications teams in Government Sales, Market Access, HE&OR, Medical, Public Affairs and Social Responsibility. He was also responsible for the Transplants/Ophthalmology & Biotech Specialty Business Unit leading teams in Marketing, Sales, Medical, Finance, DRA & HR. Dr. Rosas worked at Pfizer as Urology, Franchise Manager successfully launching 2 new products in Prostatic Hyperplasia and Erectile Dysfunction. He was also Medical Director responsible for Medical, Regulatory Affairs and Medical Marketing -Neurology.

Lydia Wright

Quality Assurance Leader

Ms. Wright is a proven Quality Assurance leader with over 25 years’ experience in pharmaceutical and biotech industries. Her expertise in design and implementation of quality systems, functional management, product development facilitates capabilities in end-to end product management.

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In overseeing Quality Management Systems able to meet global Health Agency requirements, Lydia provides strategic quality guidance to pharmaceutical and biotech companies, adopting an active role as a member of the executive management teams as well as providing oversight of quality systems.
Lydia has managed Microbiology and Analytical laboratories, product supply chain and logistics. She has been responsible for technology transfers of Drug Products and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients.

Beate R. Schmidt

MSc MDRA RAC

A regulatory consultant to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, Beate is a dedicated professional with more than 20 years of experience in drug development and licensing. She held various leading industry positions, including at Aspreva Pharmaceuticals Corp. (Canada, USA) and at Micromet AG (Germany) where she advanced the development of several promising drug candidates in oncology, haematology, autoimmune and rare diseases. Beate held the position of Scientific Administrator at the European Medicines Agency (EMA) where she was responsible for the coordination of marketing authorization and life-cycle procedures for a broad range of products.

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Beate supports all types of regulatory procedures, from CTAs/INDs to orphan drug and fast track applications, scientific advice, pediatric development plans (PIP/iPSP) and MAA/NDA applications. She combines hands-on, and in-depth subject matter expertise to provide strategic guidance on all regulatory aspects of drug development and licensing, with a focus on EU and US procedures.
A biologist by training, Beate holds a MSc in Drug Regulatory Affairs (MDRA) and in Health Economics, Policy and Management (London School of Economics). She is RAC certified (RAPS) and has a Market Access Certificate from the European Business School.

Graciela Mosqueda

Dr. Mosqueda has over 30 years of pharmaceutical industry experience in medical, scientific liaison, marketing, sales and commercial activities. Dr. Mosqueda provides strong leadership and expertise in the areas of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Oncology, Onco-Hematology, Orphan drugs and Rare Diseases.

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She has worked for multinational companies and has also held medical, marketing and commercial responsibilities in top-tier LATAM organizations. Graciela has a proven track record in leading multidisciplinary teams, understanding South American market dynamics as well as providing in-depth knowledge of the LATAM healthcare industry and stakeholder needs. Graciela also conducts NCE market analysis, both local and cluster. She has collaborated in clinical trials, including overseeing medical surveillance and pharmacovigilance, also providing support to medical societies, patient associations and coalitions.
Dr. Mosqueda had a key role in the Argentine National Registry Network for onco-hematology and other target diseases.

Ivan Lugo Montes

Ivan counts with over 35 years of global executive leadership, technical, entrepreneurial, business development and general management expertise working class pharmaceutical, biotech and chemical corporations.

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Ivan spent 21 years with Merck and Co. holding several positions in Operations, Engineering and General Management at bulk chemical and solid dose plants spanning from New Jersey, West Point, Philadelphia, Mexico & Puerto Rico. Ivan provided technical support to Merck plants, Licensees and Joint Ventures around the globe. His responsibilities included due diligence, audits and tech. transfers across more than 30 countries in Western and Eastern Europe, China, Russia, Middle East, Latin America, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
Ivan was appointed General Manager of Merck in Mexico and in 1995 was transferred to Merck Pharmaceuticals in Puerto Rico, responsible for launching Merck’s top Blockbuster drugs, with $7 billion in revenue
After his tenure at Merck, Ivan became the Executive Director of INDUNIV Research Center, Inc, 501c3 organization. INDUNIV manages the effective interaction between Industry, Academia and Government supporting the development of Biotech, Pharma Clusters and the Life Science Roadmap of Puerto Rico. facilitating knowledge economy policy continuity , supporting legislative projects in health, education and economic development.

About Us

LEADERSHIP

Stuart Wright

Silvia Bendiner

WESSX PARTNERS

Dr. José Vicente Coto Ugarte

Dr. Rodolfo Rosas Ramos

Lydia Wright

Beate R. Schmidt

Graciela Mosqueda

Ivan Lugo Montes

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Contact Silvia Bendiner

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