Costa Rica’s pharmaceutical sector is growing rapidly, anchored by GMP-certified manufacturing facilities, a strong chemistry and biology talent pool from UCR, and a regulatory framework aligned with FDA and EU standards. The country hosts active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing, finished dosage form production, and emerging clinical research operations.
Pharmaceutical Sector Overview
Costa Rica exported over $800M in pharmaceutical products in 2024 (PROCOMER), with growth driven by both multinational subsidiaries and local companies expanding into export markets. The sector benefits from the same FTZ incentives as medical devices.
Regulatory Environment
The Ministerio de Salud administers pharmaceutical licensing. Costa Rica’s regulatory standards align with ICH guidelines and are recognized as equivalent by many international regulatory bodies — critical for companies seeking to use CR as a hub for Latin American distribution.