RIO DE JANEIRO – Difficult and often uncertain intellectual property protections may be a key barrier to the development of a stronger biotech sector in Brazil, but new efforts from government, industry and academia may be slowly smoothing the way, according to multiple discussions at last week's BIO Latin America conference.

RIO DE JANEIRO – Product development partnerships (PDP) have become increasingly popular in Brazil, even as regulators work to establish clear rules and boundaries. The country has reported an increase of PDPs in the past few years, forcing regulators to deal with a number of issues including rules for technology transfers and finding a successful model for the public and private sectors to work together.

RIO DE JANEIRO – Brazil is increasingly looking to put more resources into biotechnology, recognizing the great prospects. But it has to catch up in terms of technology and drug development.

RIO DE JANEIRO – Brazil's investments in science and technology have increased by more than 550 percent over the last decade, thanks in large part to a series of innovative programs to reward entrepreneurs and leverage the best research.

BOGOTA, Colombia – Multinational companies have stepped up their hunt for partners in Latin America as they seek to grow their businesses while promoting research in a region that has somehow fallen behind in both areas.

BOGOTA, Colombia – A community in Colombia is increasingly afraid of a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine after about 100 girls started showing a range of symptoms from headaches to fainting and numbness.