The journey of a novel pharmaceutical or vital supplement from development to the hands of a patient across international borders is frequently a testament to perseverance. In regions like Latin America, the complexities of regulatory approval and market entry can create significant obstacles, frequently delaying access to critical treatments. André Di Donato, Chief Executive Officer of MyPharma2Go (a DBA of Mundihealth Inc.), has built his career on thoroughly addressing these barriers. Drawing on his extensive expertise in cross-border operations, startup management, and business strategy, he has developed innovative and compliant pathways that expedite access to essential treatments.
Foundations in Science, Business, and Pharmaceutical Realities
Mr. Di Donato’s approach is informed by a unique convergence of academic disciplines and extensive industry experience. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Physics and Economics—a field in which he was distinguished early on, winning the Economist of the Year Prize from CORECON, and an MBA degree in Marketing and Business Management. This diverse educational foundation provided a robust framework for a career that commenced three decades ago.
“I started my journey in healthcare 30 years ago, back in 1995, when I started a job opportunity as a sales representative in a pharma company,” states Mr. Di Donato. This ground-level entry into the pharmaceutical sector, coupled with his subsequent leadership roles, offered invaluable insights that would later shape his entrepreneurial vision.
The Genesis of MyPharma2Go: Addressing Unmet Access Needs
The concept for MyPharma2Go, which was established in 2018, emerged from Mr. Di Donato’s experiences facing market access challenges in the pharmaceutical industry. He recalls, “While working in the pharma sector, and serving as the LATAM Head around 2010, I encountered numerous obstacles when trying to get over-the-counter (OTC) medications registered with regulatory agencies. This prompted me to explore opportunities for generating early revenue through personal use exemptions even before products were launched.” These systemic challenges became the catalyst for his idea.
“Those challenges and findings were exactly the triggers and sparkling ideas to create a dedicated business model to help US and European brands to taste and profit from this very regulated market even before the potential registration,” he adds.
A Paradigm Shift: The “Test Drive before Register” Model
MyPharma2Go has established a unique position by concentrating on critical therapeutic areas. Mr. Di Donato states, “Our expertise lies in rare diseases, oncology, weight loss, women’s health, and gut health.” The company’s approach significantly differs from traditional import and distribution channels, serving as a crucial link for U.S. and international supplement and pharmaceutical providers entering Latin America. It specifically addresses the question:
“How can international pharmaceutical and supplement companies successfully and legally initiate their sales and marketing efforts for selected products or segments in Brazil and other Latin American markets without first registering their products with health authorities?”
“We handle demand generation, prescriber and patient education, and with prescriptions and recommendations, we facilitate the delivery from wherever the product is available directly to the patient’s or consumer’s door,” explains Mr. Di Donato.
This methodology goes beyond logistical operations; it is a comprehensive market incubation strategy informed by an understanding of product positioning throughout its life cycle. “This is not just distribution or traditional importation,” he clarifies. “We manage every step to establish a strong brand presence in the market, create awareness, and drive sales. Only then does the company decide whether to proceed with registration or continue to develop the product during the early launch phase.”
This “test the market and decide what to register” approach is essential for creating effective short- and long-term strategies in a heavily regulated environment.
Navigating Complexity: Ensuring Regulatory Adherence and Operational Excellence
The success of MyPharma2Go’s model relies heavily on strict adherence to regulatory frameworks and operational excellence. “Regulatory compliance is essential for this test drive to be successful,” emphasizes Mr. Di Donato. “The key is the prescription.” His company’s expertise in contract management, along with a deep understanding of specialized logistics, customs operations, and tax optimization, is critical.
“With our added value in logistics, quality control, pharmacovigilance strategies, and comprehensive customer care, we have a controlled ecosystem that provides valuable insights for the brand, healthcare professionals, and the final customer, always under strict regulatory oversight,” asserts Mr. Di Donato.
The primary goal of this innovative strategy is to generate prescription demand, which will provide robust key performance indicators (KPIs) for better decision-making.
Leadership Philosophy: Converging Expertise for Market Impact
As CEO, Mr. Di Donato perceives his primary role as a catalyst for innovation and a custodian of stakeholder trust. “My key role is to provide the most innovative insights for the team to be always with the customer care spirit, listening to the brand owner, and all key stakeholders along the process – being the health professional and the customer always in the loop.” He has adeptly converged sales, marketing, and brand management expertise with innovative business development initiatives to drive revenue growth.
His leadership has been instrumental in launching new products, capturing new markets, and outperforming major competitors through strong, decisive business acumen and outstanding success in client relationship management, often leveraging sophisticated CRM tools and Salesforce specialization.
His pride is rooted in the tangible impact of this vision. “I am very proud to be able to reshape the way of breakthrough technologies around the globe become available for the LATAM market at early stages,” he reflects. “And [to have] helped so many important brands to grow their pathways and pave their relationship with the market, piloting communication, pricing, assessment and marketing for a successful launch and impacting consumer health lives.”
Key Performance Indicators for Sustainable Market Entry
To evaluate market traction and ensure long-term sustainability for its clients’ products in the Latin American region, MyPharma2Go uses a comprehensive analytical framework.
Mr. Di Donato explains, “We monitor several key performance indicators (KPIs), but the most important ones are the conversion rate, prescriber activation rates, and the recurrence growth factor. With these three metrics, we can create a three-year forecast and closely monitor pricing, potential cross-selling opportunities, marketing tools, and performance compared to competitors.”
These metrics, which are derived from well-managed market relationship activities, provide a clear, data-driven understanding of a product’s journey.
Resilience Forged Through Experience
Mr. Di Donato’s path has included its share of significant professional challenges, which have, in turn, fortified his strategic approach. “The most important challenge was when my first entrepreneurship endeavor back in 2012 massively failed,” he candidly shares. “It was a tough experience moving from the safety of being a pharma executive to a single alone professional without all airbags.”
However, this adversity proved to be a critical learning period. “Key learnings from this phase and experience were key to build the current business model stronger and shielded for a long-term run and sustained growth. Without that difficult time and circumstance, we couldn’t build the early revenue propellant crossborder model we have today.”
Expanding Horizons: Future Developments and Global Reach
Looking forward, MyPharma2Go is poised for further strategic expansion. “We are very excited to explore our recently built warehouse in Europe that will allow so many innovations to enter in the LATAM market,” Mr. Di Donato reveals. “Together with our US crossborder center, we are now capable to get any product from anywhere.”Beyond broadening its geographical sourcing, the company is also deepening its service offerings. “Also, our services for health insurances and hospitals are fastly growing.”
Beyond the Executive Suite: Personal Pursuits and Guiding Philosophies
Outside his demanding professional schedule headquartered between Orlando and Lisbon, Mr. Di Donato finds rejuvenation in personal interests. “I am a tennis player and also work on Christian missionary causes, helping them with strategy and tactics planning,” he notes. These activities provide balance and a continued avenue for strategic thinking.
His message to the next generation of healthcare leaders is one of expansive vision and proactive problem-solving: “There is always a bridge to be built, no matter the distance. Healthcare leaders can think globally and without frontiers/barriers.” It is a philosophy that André Di Donato not only espouses but actively embodies through the pioneering work of MyPharma2Go, demonstrably forging new gateways for global health.
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