Brazil and China sign deal for production of Brazilian insulin
The Brazilian Ministry of Health, China’s Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals, and Brazilian biopharmaceutical company Biomm have entered into a partnership for the domestic production of glargine insulin – which has prolonged action and is used in the treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The initial production should include 20 million vials for Brazil’s national public health care network, the SUS.
The agreement also covers technology transfer for Brazil and scientific cooperation. The initiative is described as vital for reducing external dependence on insulin and expanding the supply of the drug in public hospitals.
At first, filling and labeling will take place in Brazil under the supervision of Biomm, using active pharmaceutical ingredients from Gan & Lee. The product will then be manufactured in Brazil at a facility of research institute Fiocruz in Ceará state.
Economy
The government believes the partnership will strengthen the national chain of strategic supplies, with multiplier effects on suppliers, logistics, and biotechnology. The agreement should also generate savings for the SUS, as domestic production should reduce logistics and import costs.
Fiocruz vice-President Priscila Ferraz also signed the agreement and argued that the initiative will expand treatment options for diseases that are important to public health, such as cancer and autoimmune diseases.
“Insulin glargine has been used in China for over 20 years, and this cooperation opens up new possibilities for technological development and clinical studies,” she said.
Expectations
The government reported that this glargine insulin is currently marketed in over 30 countries and should boost local production of key medicines. The partnership should also collaborate with the development of research and products for treating cancer, diabetes, obesity, and autoimmune diseases at the SUS, in addition to strengthening clinical studies in Brazil.
The director of the Chinese company, Wei Chen, told the Brazilian government that the move marks a new level of tech cooperation. “We think this project will be a model for international collaboration, encouraging new partnerships between Chinese and Brazilian companies,” he noted.
