The new Fiocruz factory in Curitiba will develop components for vaccines and advanced cancer therapies

The mayor of Curitiba, Rafael Greca, was present, on Friday, 5th, at the Clube Curitibano, for the commemoration of the IBMP (Institute of Molecular Biology of the Paraná), founded by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) together with the Government of the State of Paraná to develop activities related to biotechnology, innovation and industrial production of health solutions at the factory.

Mayor Greca also highlighted the work of IBMP during the pandemic and the investment in the new biotechnology factory in the Industrial City of Curitiba (CIC), which will develop inputs for vaccines and advanced cancer therapies.

Also present at the event was Fiocruz's vice president of health production and innovation, Marco Aurélio Krieger, who represented the company's president, Nísia Veronica Trindade Lima. Marco highlighted the role of IBMP during the Covid-19 pandemic: “The biotechnology institute performed exemplary, being recognized by Paraná and Brazilian society. IBMP is currently considered the crown jewel of Fiocruz, which is now looking at this operation as a model for its own development”, he commented.

IBMP developed just over 35 million tests during the pandemic

Since the beginning of the pandemic, IBMP has developed in its biotechnology factory more than 35 million rapid tests delivered to the SUS, through Fiocruz, and, in a record period, acted in the development and production of the molecular test with biotechnology, used as a counterproof in the confirmation of the first case in Brazil. Also, IBMP set up the molecular testing factory, with biotechnology, for Covid-19 in Paraná, responsible for processing more than 3,5 million and a half samples.

“The IBMP was already created with the DNA of innovation that has been Fiocruz's trademark since its foundation. Innovation is a systemic process, which needs to be fed with promotion, protection and access to markets. Curitiba has everything to be a center of science and biotechnology. By 2023, we will double the capacity of the factories, with investments of around R$ 150 million, with two or three new plants, with the production of strategic inputs for vaccines and cancer therapies, which are currently not made in Brazil and which depend on imports ”, declared Pedro Ribeiro Barbosa, CEO of IBMP.

Last Friday, IBMP celebrated its founding, in 1999, and the implementation of the new factory in Curitiba, in 2009. The production unit was Fiocruz's first outside Rio de Janeiro, which last Thursday, the 4th, celebrated the 150th anniversary of the birth of scientist Oswaldo Cruz, its founder.

New Fiocruz factory in Curitiba

IBMP is acquiring Curitiba SA's area in Parque da Saúde CIC to install a new plant for the production of components for vaccines and for advanced therapies in cancer.

In all, there will be two units in the area of ​​biotechnology at CIC. One will be destined to the development and production of vaccines and inputs for advanced therapies based on gene therapy, which will use vectors, such as DNA molecules from the infectious agent into the human cell, to create antibodies. The other unit will be destined for the production of new medicines, from the biotechnology, for autoimmune diseases based on therapeutic proteins, in an unprecedented structure in the country.

Also present at last Friday's event were the Secretary of State for Health, Cesar Augusto Neves Luiz, the president of the Curitiba Agency for Development and Innovation, Cris Alessi, the vice president of management and institutional development at Fiocruz, Mario Santos Moreira, the director president of Tecpar, Jorge Augusto Callado, the director of the institute Carlos Chagas/Fiocruz, Stênio Fragoso and the other directors of IBMP and collaborators of the institute.