Cristália Laboratory inaugurates, next August 6th, Tuesday, the Farmoquímica Oncológica plant. The new industrial unit of the laboratory, installed at the Industrial Complex for Health, in Itapira (SP), is born producing six different Active Pharmaceutical Inputs (APIs) of High Power, which will be used for the production of drugs for the treatment of adenomas, breast cancer, lung, marrow, bones and brain. The inauguration ceremony will be held at the Cristália Industrial Complex, in Itapira (SP), and will be attended by President Jair Bolsonaro.
For this new achievement, the company has invested about R$ 150 million with its own resources in the construction of a productive plant with more than 3 thousand square meters. "Brazil today imports 100% of the inputs for the production of medicines against cancer. This not only makes the country dependent on such strategic inputs, but also reduces the access of patients to state-of-the-art treatments. The Cristália Oncological Pharmacy is a great step to change this reality", says Dr. Ogari de Castro Pacheco, co-founder of the laboratory.
Cristália already has an Oncological Pharmaceutical plant, which produces the final medicine that reaches patients and hospitals. But for the production of these drugs, he was obliged to import the APIs. Farmoquímica Oncológica will be responsible for supplying the pharmaceutical unit with the following APIs: Zoledronic acid, for inhibition of osteoclastic bone resorption of the tumor; Bortezomibe, indicated for the treatment of multiple myeloma; Cabergoline, for the treatment of pituitary adenomas secreting prolactin and idiopathic hyperprolactinemia; Anastrozole, for the treatment of breast cancer in postmenopausal women; Pemetrexed, for the treatment of pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer; and Temozolomide, used in the treatment of brain cancers and for glioblastoma multiforme.
Pioneering in Pharmachemistry
A leader in research and development, Cristália invests around 4% of its annual revenues in the creation of new drugs or innovative technologies for health. The laboratory's trajectory in the Pharmachemical segment began in 1983, the year in which the first API production unit was inaugurated. "Brazil still imports 90% of the APIs necessary for the production of medicines. We at Cristália have already produced more than half of the inputs we use. Our goal is to drastically reduce our dependence in this area", says Dr. Pacheco, emphasizing that Farmoquímica Oncológica has plans, including, to export these inputs.
The inauguration of the new plant involved intense research work to choose the most modern, safe and sustainable technologies, using special equipment, acquired mostly in Germany, Switzerland and Italy. Due to the high toxicity and sensitivity of oncological inputs, the handling should be performed in a special environment that ensures a physical barrier between operators and the process.
The entire environment is controlled, ensuring extreme purity of water, air and adequate temperature. The plant also has a sophisticated and innovative waste treatment system, with specific degradation of mutagenic and genotoxic components, which can cause mutation or damage to cellular DNA. The production capacity is from 6 to 8 tons per year.
Trade Balance Deficit
Dr. Ogari Pacheco points out that Brazil needs to make a major effort to reduce dependence on API and drug production. According to data from ABIQUIFI (Brazilian Association of Pharmaceutical Inputs Industry), in 2018 the country imported about US$ 10 billion in medicines and pharmaceutical inputs and exported only US$ 1.8 billion, which resulted in a deficit of US$ 8.2 billion.
"We need to stop being just an exporter of commodities and start exporting high-tech and value-added products. And, for that, it is necessary to invest in scientific research," explains Dr. Pacheco. The co-founder of Cristália also remembers that, recently, large international pharmaceutical groups announced that they will stop producing medicines in the country, but will only import, which could deepen the deficit of the Trade Balance.
It is important to emphasize that, in the Industrial Complex for Cristália Health, are already installed: two Pharmaceutical plants, an Oncological Pharmaceutical, a Pharmachemical and two Biotechnology plants, all producing pharmaceutical inputs and medicines. The complex counts also with a center entirely dedicated to Research & Innovation.
About Cristália
Founded 47 years ago, Cristália Laboratory is a 100% Brazilian Pharmaceutical, Pharmachemical, Biotechnological, Research, Development and Innovation Industrial Complex. It is a pioneer in the realization of the complete chain of a drug, from the conception of the molecule to the final product. It holds 107 patents worldwide and is a national record holder. In anesthesia, it is market leader in America.