Fiocruz now has exclusivity in the creation of CAR-T cells, used in gene, oncological and infectious therapies
The Ministry of Health launched the Fiocruz Strategy for Advanced Therapies, a program for the national production of treatments for cancer and rare diseases. The organization signed a technology transfer agreement with the North American Caring Cross lasting 36 months and worth R$330 million.
The initiative is part of the actions foreseen in the CEIS (Health Economic-Industrial Complex) and the New PAC (Growth Acceleration Program). The agreement was signed on March 26, at the headquarters of Fiocruz (Fundação Oswaldo Cruz), in Rio and was attended by minister Nísia Trindade.
“We are celebrating a policy of our government that we want to establish as State policy, which is the economic and health viability of public projects in the Health Industrial Complex, in line with having a well-cared for Brazil at the service of life and a stronger SUS ”declared Nísia at the launch.
With the contract, Fiocruz will begin producing CAR-T cells and lentiviral vectors exclusively in Brazil and Latin America, used in the treatment of oncological, genetic and infectious diseases. The partnership makes it possible to reduce production costs and access to gene therapies in the SUS (Unified Health System).
The agreement also allows the Inca (National Cancer Institute) conduct clinical trials focused on hematological cancers. CAR-T cell technology allows the use of the body's own defense cells to fight infected cells.
In the 1st phase of production, the focus will be on the treatment of leukemia and lymphoma. As well as the production of a therapeutic treatment for AIDS, which is still in the clinical testing phase in the United States. The cost of these treatments is among the highest on the market, with prices exceeding R$2 million per dose, according to the Ministry of Health. With local production, costs can fall by 10%, to close to R$173,000.
With information from Ministry of Health.
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