CubaMinrex. Sitio del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores de Cuba

BIOCEN guarantees production of anti-hepatitis B vaccines

By Orfilio Peláez—Granma daily staff writer— Havana. February, 5 2004

The National Biopreparations Center (BIOCEN) established a new record in 2003 in the manufacture of Anti-hepatitis B vaccines, with more than 17 million doses destined to cover national deliveries and export commitments.

As Carlos Lastra informed Granma, last year BIOCEN ratified its position as an important manufacturer of Cuban biotechnology products, having taken on all the preparation phases of Recombinant Streptokinase; as well as the combination vaccine against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus and Hepatitis B; the Colony Stimulation Factor and certain kinds of Interferon.

Another relevant result was the production of 20 tons of culture mediums (another record), and meeting the national demand for Trofin, a natural anti-anemia reconstituent that has demonstrated its effectiveness for children, pregnant women and older adults with iron deficiency, for the third year in succession.

Lastra also confirmed that BIOCEN won various manufacturing licenses, including one for an anti-Haemophilus Influenzae vaccine, the first batch of which is already available for Cuban children. This vaccine was produced by specialists at the University of Havana’s Synthetic Antigens Center and is seen as one of Cuban science’s most important achievements of 2003.

In terms of exports, BIOCEN opened up new markets in Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Venezuela and Germany.

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