State of Mexico Hosts 19% of National Pharmaceutical Industry, Leads in Investment
By Israel Molina
July 29, 2025
The State of Mexico leads the national pharmaceutical sector. New biotech investments in Toluca, Chalco, and Ecatepec are driving innovation and job creation.
The State of Mexico has firmly positioned itself as the leading hub for Mexico’s chemical-pharmaceutical industry, accounting for 19.1% of the sector’s economic units, according to official data. Currently, 1,307 businesses operate in this sector across the state, employing more than 49,000 people and generating 27.2% of the national value-added in the industry.
New Investments Strengthen the Pharmaceutical Sector in Edomex
The sector’s sustained growth in the region is being driven by new investments under the “Plan México” initiative, which includes three major projects set to launch in Toluca, Chalco, and Ecatepec. These developments are expected to generate more than 3,000 direct and indirect jobs, reinforcing the State of Mexico’s role in the national pharmaceutical and biotechnology value chain.
Among the standout investments is Kener’s expansion project in Toluca, valued at 5.18 billion pesos. The plan includes the development of an Oncology Compounding Center and the construction of Latin America’s first facility for local production of CAR-T cell therapies. The project is expected to create 800 direct and 2,000 indirect jobs.
Biotechnology and Skilled Talent Drive Industrial Innovation
In Chalco, Genbio will invest 4 billion pesos in establishing Latin America’s first plasma fractionation plant. Meanwhile, Neolsym will invest 500 million pesos in Ecatepec to expand its active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) production capacity. Combined, these two projects will add at least 620 new jobs.
The municipalities with the highest concentration of pharmaceutical companies include Toluca (5.1%), Ecatepec (4.9%), Lerma (3.5%), and Naucalpan (3.2%). These areas host more than 100 companies—both domestic and international—including major players such as Bayer, Pfizer, Merck, Roche, Sanofi, and Aventis, with foreign investment originating from Canada, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland.
“The State of Mexico is not only the industrial heart of the country—it is now the pharmaceutical pulse of innovation and skilled employment,” stated Laura González, Secretary of Economic Development, emphasizing the state's strengths in legal certainty, infrastructure, and talent availability.
From September 2023 to May 2025, the State of Mexico has attracted more than 132 billion pesos in national investment, contributing to the creation of over 133,000 jobs across strategic sectors, including pharmaceuticals.