Brazil to Produce Cuban Medicines

[Judi Lynn]

Brazil to Produce Cuban Medicines

Havana, Feb 14 (acn) Brazil will soon begin to produce two medicines developed by Cuban institutions as part of cooperation agreements between the two nations.

According to the website of the Brazilian Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), the medicines are Erythropoyetin, for the control of kidney failure, and Alpha Interferon, for patients with infections caused by viruses, such as hepatitis.

The cooperation agreement that allowed this transference of technology is the result of a visit by specialists from Fiocruz to the Caribbean island in August 2003. On that occasion, they identified Cuban products, processes and technologies that the Brazilian nation wants to have access to.

Brazil, which during a first stage packed the medicines imported from Cuba and then began to carry out quality control tests, will now begin to produce the active pharmaceutical ingredient.

Local production will lower costs in one third and it will allow more people to receive these medicines free of charge.

The medicines will be produced by the state laboratory Biomanguinhos, which will acquire the necessary equipment and will train personnel in operations of quality control and guarantee in all the stages of the process.

http://www.cubanews.ain.cu/2008/0214prodmedicinas.htm