|
Cuba
produces anti-retroviral medicine for AIDS
patients
• NOVATEC laboratories are producing the
so-called "drug cocktails" being distributed free
to patients
BY LILLIAM RIERA, —Granma
International staff
writer—
CUBA is
manufacturing the anti-retroviral drugs used in
the triple therapy treatment given to HIV/AIDS
patients, who receive them completely free of
charge.
Each
tablet costs more than $3 USD on the world market,
bringing the annual cost of this therapy to more
than $11,015 USD and thus making it inaccessible
to the 42 million people living with the
virus.
Melvis
Heredia Molina, director of NOVETEC Laboratories —
a part of the West Havana Scientific Center — told
Granma International that this year the
company aims to produce sufficient quantities of
the drugs for 1,500 patients.
She
explained that to date, Cuba only has five
anti-retrovirals registered (Zidovudine,
Didanosina, Lamivudina, Estavudina and Indinavir),
adding that "we are working together with the
Center for the Research and Development of
Medicines (CIDEM) so that this figure reaches 13."
A combination of three drugs is used to fabricate
the anti-AIDS "cocktail" treatment.
The island
has the lowest number of AIDS patients in Latin
America — 0.05% of 15-49 year olds, informed Cuban
Health Minister Damodar Peña at a recent forum on
the subject in Havana.
The
anti-retrovirals are a best seller for NOVATEC
Laboratories; other tablets for human consumption
produced in the laboratories include anti-ulcer
drugs such as Omeprazol (the world’s most popular
medication in 2002), antibiotics,
anti-inflammatories, antihipertensives,
analgesics, antacids, fever reducers and
nutritional supplements, all destined for the
country’s network of hospitals and
pharmacies.
EXPORTS OF
MORE THAN $1 MILLION USD IN
2002
The
pharmaceutical company also manufactures drugs for
export. Heredia pointed out that in 2002, for
example, "over $1 million USD worth of
anti-retrovirals" were sold. Heber Biotec, the
company that markets products from the Genetic
Engineering and Biotechnology Center, likewise
distributes abroad.
Medication
used in the combination therapy for the treatment
of AIDS plus others combating opportunistic
infections "are already registered in Paraguay and
Venezuela," whilst registration procedures are
underway in Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Viet Nam and
Guinea."
Nevertheless, NOVATEC is not resting on its
laurels. The professionalism of its 367 members of
staff — 14% of whom are advanced level technicians
and another 34% with intermediate training —
guarantees a thorough research program to develop
new products such as Itraconaz (antifungal),
Azitromocina (antibiotic), Ribavirina (antiviral),
Enalapril (antihypertensive), Sumatriptán
(antimigraine) and Vimang
(anti-inflammatory).
Lorgia
Aguiar Gómez-Napier, deputy director of technical
production, told us that the company emerged in
the 1990s, in the midst of the years known as the
special period; it was initiated as a result of
the disappearance of the East European socialist
bloc and the intensification of the U.S. blockade.
"Civil construction and equipment installation
began in 1994, but it wasn’t until six years later
that production began," she explained.
Although
it is not yet working at full capacity, Aguiar
highlighted how "600-700 million units" of tablets
and hard capsules were produced in 2002; this
year’s plan "is to reach 900 units."
Granma
International
was able to verify that the center uses the most
up-to-date equipment, conceived and designed in
line with high-production practice guidelines. The
company has purchased pharmaceutical equipment
from the world’s leading German manufacturers —
Glatt, Uhlman, Bosch, Killian and Alexander
Werk.
During our
tour of the center, we were shown the strict
protection precautions developed in the
microbiology lab "where air, water, personnel...
everything to do with our work, is checked,"
assured the director.
Sergio
Ibáñez, principal specialist in the chemo-physics
laboratory, took us through that area explaining
that it was the place where "analysis takes place,
beginning with the raw and imported materials used
in making the drugs, up to the finished
product."
Together
with head of shift Robert Casanova, we visited the
production plant and were able to evidence in situ
the new type of production lines designed to allow
the product to be conveyed through the different
processing phases thanks to gravity.
Without
being able to hide a certain pride, the director
spoke to us about the "tremendous impact" the
company made at the ExpoBrazil Fair in two of the
South American giant’s states in April, where
"many people were surprised when they discovered
the volume of medicines Cuba is producing,
including the anti-retrovirals." | 
