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.