Founder & Managing Director

Global health policy and market access strategist with over three decades of experience at the intersection of regulation, corporate strategy, and public policy. Proven track record in translating complex legal, political, and market dynamics into executable strategies that unlock patient access, financial sustainability, and system-level impact across global markets.

Thera Contribution

As Founder & Managing Director of Thera Health Policy & Access, José Luis leads the firm’s Think Tank × Do Tank platform, operationalizing its Diagnose → Design → Deliver → Demonstrate methodology to convert policy complexity into measurable access outcomes.

He architects Thera’s “Access Bridge,” integrating regulatory science, policy feasibility, and market execution to accelerate real-world health impact. Under his leadership, Thera positions itself as a platform that transforms regulatory and financing complexity into execution and measurable value.

Executive Profile

José Luis is a globally recognized strategist in health policy, pharmaceutical regulation, and market access, with more than 30 years of experience shaping high-stakes decisions across the pharmaceutical industry, government, and multilateral platforms.

He is widely recognized for his ability to connect legal, regulatory, commercial, and political dimensions into fully executable strategies, enabling patient access while ensuring system sustainability.

A defining characteristic of his leadership is a “360-degree perspective”, built on:

• Over a decade of legal practice at top-tier international law firms
• Two decades of senior corporate leadership
• Active participation in multilateral and policy negotiations

This unique combination allows him to anticipate structural barriers and design solutions that are technically robust, politically viable, and economically sustainable.

Areas of Strategic Impact

Access Architecture & Market Integration
Designs integrated access pathways, including pricing, reimbursement, and tender strategies, aligning therapeutic value with payer requirements and long-term system sustainability.

Regulatory Science, Policy & Trade Architecture
Advises on biopharmaceutical regulation, biosimilar frameworks, and intellectual property standards, with direct experience in major global policy processes, including TPP, Pacific Alliance, USMCA, and Pandemic Treaty discussions.

High-Stakes Corporate & Public Affairs
Leads institutional positioning in complex negotiations and multi-stakeholder environments, bridging industry, government, and international organizations to unlock systemic access barriers.

Professional Background

Prior to founding Thera, José Luis built a distinguished 20-year career at Teva Pharmaceuticals, where he served as Sr. Director Corporate Affairs & Market Access LATAM, leading regional strategy across policy, ESG, communications, and access.

He began his career practicing law for over 10 years at leading firms, including:

• Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (Frankfurt)
• Philippi (Chile)

where he specialized in regulatory frameworks, complex transactions, and high-stakes litigation. This legal foundation remains central to his ability to integrate regulatory, policy, and commercial strategy.

He has held leadership roles in global industry platforms, including:

• Vice-Chair, Intellectual Property Committee – International Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (IGBA)

Public Thought Leadership

José Luis is an active public voice in health policy:

• Co-host of “Salud en Serio”, a leading podcast focused on public health and health systems
• Columnist at El Economista (Mexico)

His work bridges technical expertise with public debate, contributing to more informed decision-making across sectors.

Academic Credentials

• Ph.D. in Law (Dr. iur.) – University of Freiburg, Germany
• Master of Laws (LL.M.) – University of Freiburg, Germany
• Law Degree (LL.B.) – Universidad de Chile
• Postgraduate Diploma in Pharmacology – Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de Chile
• Postgraduate Diploma in Health Technology Assessment (HTA) – Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
• Former Professor of Economic Constitutional Law – Universidad de Chile

Honors : Konrad Adenauer Foudation scholar.