BioCen is a benchmark in the production of immunomodulators, anti-allergy vaccines, culture media and microbiological diagnostics, nutrition, anti-anemia and biopharmaceutical supplements, both in the finishing phase and active ingredients, produced according to the highest international quality standards. , has a high-quality workforce
Founded on August 14, 1992, the National Center for Biological Agents (BioCen) has been a pillar of Cuban science and, on its 31st anniversary, has transformed into a state-of-the-art scientific-industrial complex dedicated to research, manufacturing and biotechnology and Commercialization of pharmaceutical products for use in health and other sectors of national life.
The entity, which belongs to the BioCubaFarma business group, has held the high-tech company certification since 2020, taking into account the intensive use of science, technology and innovation in its development and the high competitiveness of its services and high value-added products.
Today, it is a benchmark in the production of immunomodulators, antiallergic vaccines, culture media and microbiological diagnostics, nutritional, anti-anemic and biopharmaceutical supplements, both in their finishing stages and active ingredients, produced according to the highest international quality standards. , Has a high-quality workforce.
Located in the municipality of Bejucar, Mayabém province, the center is responsible for the production of more than 30 lines of Cuban biotechnology, including some of the most representative products such as Heberprot-p, Hepatitis B vaccine, Heberpenta, Interferon and Erythropoiesis white.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency’s staff guaranteed the manufacture and timely delivery to the national health system of key drugs used in Cuba’s protocols for combating and controlling them.
This entity also produced the millions of doses of the Sovereign 02 vaccine needed to initiate Phase III clinical studies and subsequently contributed to compliance with Cuba’s vaccination program against this contagious and dangerous disease.
It cannot fail to mention the development within a few months of the first virus transport vehicle (BTV) obtained in Cuba, aimed at the collection and safe transfer of clinical nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal samples from patients for the diagnosis of SARS-COV-2, in National Network of Molecular Biology Laboratories.
During its sixty years of work, BioCen obtained and consolidated a series of results that today are a hallmark of its research history.
The natural anti-anemia Trofin, Biomodulin-T and Valergen vaccines stand out in the list for the diagnosis and immunotherapy of respiratory allergies mainly caused by house mites.
innovation era
Among the innovative contributions of the National Center for Biological Preparations in the past two years, the new version of the molecular diagnostic delivery tool stands out.
The product, known in scientific terms as TAN (Transport Nucleic Acid), is capable of inactivating SARS-COV-2 and Zika viruses and extending the shelf life of their genetic material.
It does not require a cold chain and reduces the risk of infection for medical staff handling samples, said Dr. Alexis Labrada Rosado, director of research and development at BioCen.
At the research level, the agency conducted different studies of the Biomodulin-T product, focusing on clinical evidence to demonstrate the effectiveness of the drug in the prevention of acute respiratory disease in elderly patients with COVID-19 who are related to blood A project carried out in collaboration with the Institute of Immunology and Immunology.
Based on the results of these investigations, the National Center for Medicines, Equipment and Medical Devices Control (Cecmed) approved the clinical introduction of Biomodulin-t in early 2023 for the prevention of respiratory infectious diseases in the elderly, including COVID-19.
Likewise, the final phase of a project related to the use of this product in pediatric patients with thymic hypoplasia is underway.
According to preliminary results of a phase III clinical trial recently presented at the Ninth Congress of Hematology in 2023, the drug has shown safety and efficacy as an immunomodulatory drug in the treatment of this genetic disease.
Specifically, the effect of Biomodulin-T not only indicated the development of this important organ of the immune system, but also showed a significant reduction in infections in patients.
Currently, BioCen intends to obtain the second-generation product of the drug in the long-term, and it may be applied to other immunogenic diseases.
According to Dr. Alexis Labrado Rosales, the center is conducting a research project focused on developing new variants of allergen vaccines against three different dust mites that were developed several years ago, with higher efficacy and long-term immune memory. Administered sublingually in the form of drops.
In addition to reducing the risk of adverse effects, this has the added purpose of facilitating greater dissemination and use of these therapies among Cuban asthmatics, the scientist noted.
Another novelty of BioCen’s scientific activities is the development of faster diagnostic methods based on nanostructured clays, in collaboration with the Center for Advanced Research in Cuba.
In terms of recently announced results, Pormas, the first nutritional supplement developed for high-level athletes, stands out, having won the Quality Award a few days ago at the first Cuban International Sports Fair in Coliseo de Coliseo de . la Ciudad Deportiva (which is being used with good results by our competitors at the 2023 Central American and Caribbean Games in San Salvador), and the development and commercial Launch of natural product homogenization and dehydration services.
in context
BioCen is the only center in China that has a complete cycle platform for R&D, production, marketing and monitoring of allergy vaccines for the treatment of asthma patients.
This year, the entity received three national awards from the Cuban Academy of Sciences, two related to the Biomodulin-T biomedical research conducted in collaboration with the Institute of Hematology and Immunology and the Center of Molecular Immunology, and one related to the evaluation of animal development A model for an approach to Alzheimer’s disease treatment or prevention.