| Havana. February 26, 2014 | ||||
| Cuban pharmaceuticals expanding Lilliam Riera Cuba's biotechnolgy and pharmaceutical industry is taking positive steps toward a better positioning in the region since the creation of the BioCubaFarma company, authorized to establish joint ventures with high technology firms from abroad and build production facilities in the Mariel Special Development Zone (ZEDM), west of Havana.
It is worth recalling that this success is the result of a vision expressed many years ago by the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, and the consistent efforts of an underdeveloped country which has been subjected to an ironclad blockade for more than 50 years by the United States. Despite these obstacles, Cuba now possesses a biotechnology industry which compares favorably to those of developed countries. Cuban biotechnology was described in the prestigious British journal Nature as the best in the Third World, and has developed unique products which have had an important impact internationally. The industry's expansion into the production of generic non-patented medicines has made Cuban companies much more competitive, reported BioCubaFarma Vice-President Dr. José Luis Fernández Yero, during an interview with Granma International. BioCubaFarma was founded November 27, 2012, by way of a decree – no.307 – approved by the Council of Ministers, and is composed of a central management body and 38 production companies, distributors and service providers, located in the West Havana Scientific Pole, in addition to the QUIMEFA state enterprise.
Fernández explained that BioCubaFarma has as its mission the development of an enterprise system capable of producing significant volumes of medications, equipment and advanced technology services - to improve the health of the Cuban people and generate exports of goods and services. The doctor reported that the industry manufactures a total of 1,099 products, including generics and those based on Cuban biotechnology. Of these, 592 are distributed as part of the basic inventory of 888 essential drugs available throughout the country's public health system. He added that more than 100 bio-technology products are under development, in addition to several pieces of medical equipment. The objective is to promote early diagnoses, prevention and timely, non-invasive treatment, as well as the effective control of metabolic illnesses such as high blood pressure and diabetes, and chronic, non-infectious diseases such as cancer, the principal cause of death in 10 of the country's 16 provinces. Among the bio-pharmaceuticals produced, Dr. Fernández emphasized, are several which are unique in the world, including Heberprot-P, which promotes the healing of foot ulcers caused by diabetes, thus reducing amputations. This product was granted a gold medal by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in April of 2011.
Also in this category are various monoclonal antibodies and therapeutic medications for the treatment of advanced lung cancer (RACOTUMOMAB and CIMAVAX-EGF), in addition to medical equipment such as SUMA technology which includes eight high-priority programs used within the public health system. The company maintains a close relationship with the Ministry of Public Health, which ensures that all medications and equipment developed are available throughout the free, universal healthcare system. Fernández reported that in 2013, the company's first year of operations, sales surpassed 686 million dollars, making BioCubaFarma the country's number one exporter of goods and services. Products were sold to more than 50 predominately Latin American nations, with Venezuela and Brazil as the largest markets, although China, Turkey and Vietnam also made significant purchases. Most widely distributed in 2013 were Heberprot-P, the bio-pharmaceutical industry's leading export product since 2009; EPOCIM, human recombinant erythropoietin, used to treat anemia in patients with chronic renal failure, AIDS or undergoing radiation therapy; and SUMA technology. Other important exports include the pentavalent vaccine Heberpenta, to protect children from diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B and haemophilus influenzae type b; PPG, used in the prevention and treatment of vascular disease, bearer of the WIPO gold medal since 1996; as well as glucose meters and sensors for the measurement and control of blood sugar. The new conglomerate enterprise includes ten import-export companies, one of which, FARMACUBA, is responsible for the distribution of generic non-patented products, while the other nine focus on sales of bio-pharmaceuticals and medical technology. Fernández reported that sales made by four of the distributors, (Heber Biotec S.A., FARMACUBA, CIMAB S.A. and TECNOSUMA S.A.) accounted for 94% of the industry's exports last year. They currently have three joint enterprises operating abroad, in addition to dozens of agreements signed with entities in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America to conduct clinical trials and facilitate sales of products. Significant collaboration has been established with Brazil, including the signing of three contracts for the transfer of technology, a manufacturing plant erected with the support of Cuban specialists in Rio de Janeiro, to produce human recombinant erythropoietin; interferon for the treatment of chronic hepatitis types B and C; and other biotechnology products. A new stage of Cuban cooperation with Brazil began with the January visit to Havana of President Dilma Rousseff, who participated in the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States Summit and inaugurated, along with President Raúl Castro, the first segment of the Mariel container terminal. Projected is the creation of joint companies with production facilities in the Special Development Zone, based on Cuban technology and Brazilian capital, to manufacture new pharamceuticals developed in the two countries, to meet the needs of their respective public health systems and jointly expand exports. Dr. Fernández likewise emphasized collaboration with China, where two of BioCubaFarma's joint ventures abroad are located. The relationship will take on a new dimension as China invests in facilities within the Special Development Zone, with a view toward extending sales of its products throughout Latin America. He reiterated that the Mariel Special Development Zone will provide opportunities for investors from abroad to partner with BioCubaFarma, which has great potential to develop new products given its highly qualified workforce. The company has 20,785 full-time employees, including 7,002 university graduates, 4,700 technicians, 354 scientists with doctorates and 1,374 with Master's degrees. Approximately 2,000 more collaborate temporarily or offer scientific advice. The Mariel Special Development Zone will also facilitate the establishment of industries which can collaborate and support the development of BioCubaFarma, while generating employment opportunities for Cubans. As this interview came to a close, considering the new company's potential and its importance to Cuba's economy, Dr. Fernández reiterated that the staff is intent upon making BioCubaFarma the country's leading force in scientific development and expansion of the economy, making an increasingly greater contribution to the people's quality of life. This way, he said, "We will be making a reality of Fidel's words, spoken on January 15, 1960, when he said: The future of our country must necessarily be a future of scientists." | ||||
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