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."