Russia's Biocad plans to produce high-tech drugs in Brazil

Biocad, one of Russia’s leading biotechnology companies, plans to launch production of several of its drugs for the treatment of serious diseases in Brazil, in cooperation of local producers. The agreement was reached during a recent visit of Russia’s Prime Minister to Brazil.

Under the terms of the accord, Biocad will establish a new modern center of biotechnologies in Brazil and for the local production of three products based on monoclonal antibodies, among which are trastuzumab (Roche’s blockbuster breast cancer drug Herceptin), bevacizumab (Avastin, also from Roche) and rituximab (Roche’s MabThera/Rituxan), as well as transfer a technology for manufacture of these drugs. According to Biocad, the company plans to launch production of anticancer drugs, as well as drugs for the treatment of multiple sclerosis and hepatitis C but has not specified which ones.

Most of the future production of the plant will be sold on the Brazilian market, and will allow the country to stop importing such drugs, for which the annual value is estimated at $1 billion.