OREANDA-NEWS. November 07, 2011. A new facility manufacturing pharmaceutical substances and finished medicines has opened at the KhimPharmSintez Center of the Institute of Biochemistry of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. Belarus Premier Mikhail Myasnikovich paid a visit to the company on 28 October.

The head of government told media that this is a modern production of the sixth technological paradigm. The country needs more facilities of the kind, he stressed. “The main thing is new technologies to make structural transformations in the country,” Mikhail Myasnikovich is confident. In his words, new areas in the production of medicines, pharmaceutical substances and biotechnologies is an economic structure which gives higher value added. The country has a necessary scientific and staff potential for the development of the sector.

The PM noted that 26 companies of Belarus specialize in the production of medications and pharmaceutical substances. “In line with the government plans we are to build 12 more manufactures, with one of them opened today. ” Mikhail Myasnikovich said. He noted that a total of Br22 billion had been earmarked for a new manufacturing in the Institute of Biochemistry. It is expected that the annul production of pharmaceutical substances and finished medicines will reach almost USD 6 million. The project promises to be highly efficient.

The Belarusian head of government said that there are 5,300 registered pharmaceutical forms and drugs in Belarus. Of them 80% are foreign ones. There are only 59 Belarus-made pharmaceutical forms used to make medications, he specified. A program has been adopted to increase the number by 35 within the next four years.

The Premier added that the pharmaceutical market is constantly growing. “This year the consumption of drugs has increased by more than 8% over the last year. The market capacity is estimated at about \\$700 million,” he said. Domestic medicines account for only 22% of the market in monetary terms. Belarus needs to promote the consumption of domestic drugs.

Mikhail Myasnikovich said that the government will treat the production of new pharmaceutical forms in a complex manner. It will consider ways to increase both the quality and the quantity of end products.

According to the Prime Minister, there are many of those, who believe that it would be simpler for Belarus to buy Chinese or Indian pharmaceutical forms instead of making some of its own. “However, we focus on manufacturing original, expensive pharmaceutical forms in order to use them to make original, expensive medications that will sell well abroad. It is no blind duplication. The Academy of Sciences should increase the capacity to follow the market demand,” he said.

The cost of foreign and domestic drugs has risen after Belarus adopted a single exchange rate. The Belarusian Premier noted that the government will not provide any targeted subsidies to cheapen the medicines; however, those people who cannot do without medicines can count on the government support. “All people who have to take medicines to fight certain diseases will be provided with targeted social support,” the Belarusian head of government said.

Mikhail Myasnikovich noted that the rise in prices for medicines will be taken into consideration while developing a government strategy aimed to enhance household incomes and well-being of people. “We do not plan any targeted subsidies to cheapen pharmaceuticals, but this will be taken into consideration while calculating the cost of the overall consumer goods basket,” he said.

According to head of the KhimPharmSintez Center, deputy director for scientific and innovation activities with the Institute of Biochemistry Elena Kalinichenko, the uniqueness of the new facility is in its full manufacturing chain, from pharmaceutical substances to finished medicines.

The project is based on the research products of the Institute itself. Thanks to their application, the cost of drugs could be reduced and their quality improved. High-quality of production is ensured through flexible technological schemes. “Products manufactured here are worth from USD 100 to USD 5,000 per one gram,” said Yelena Kalinichenko. We are talking about high-tech, expensive pharmaceutical substances that are needed in small quantities, she said.

The head of the center noted that production targets primarily the hospital sector. The center will manufacture drugs primarily for treatment of oncological and cardiovascular diseases. In the future, the center expects to start exports of some of the products.

KimPharmSintez plans to manufacture pharmaceutical substances and finished pharmaceuticals, including Clofarabine, Imatinib, Carboplatin, Dekrehol, Letrazol, Pemetreksed, Azacitidin. In 2011-2012 the company is set to start synthesis of intermediates and pharmaceutical substances, manufacture of injections. Depending on the length of trials, these drugs may appear on the market in 2013-2015.

Pharmaceutical substances and finished medicines will be shipped to Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and other countries.

In the near future the Belarusian pharmaceutical companies need to increase the share of indigenous drugs to 50% on the domestic market. Launch of small-scale production in accordance with good manufacturing practice (GMP) standards will allow cutting down significantly on the import of foreign raw materials.