Biotechnology
A multidisciplinary area, which involves knowledge in Molecular Biology, Fermentation, Microbiology, Protein Purification, Analytical Methods and Genetic Engineering. It develops genetically modified organisms – specifically bacteria – that receive human genes and become the active ingredients in new drugs.
In 2005, Eurofarma built its Biotechnology Laboratory at the Interlagos Unit in São Paulo, which came online the following year.
During 2007, the company produced four pilot batches of the first biotechnological drug, filgrastim, used to treat cancer patients. All the scientific steps were executed in this phase, from clone development to analytical methodology. Its production is extremely complex, since it involves modifying the DNA of a living organism, requiring processes completely different from those of a synthetic product.
Fiprima® (filgrastim) arrived on the market in 2018, indicated to induce an increase in the body’s defense cells for patients with some types of cancer, such as breast cancer and leukemia, helping to prevent the emergence of opportunistic infectious diseases. An aging population has caused an increase in the incidence of diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s, and the use of biological drugs to combat these diseases has become a worldwide trend.
In addition to serving the private market, Eurofarma has an ongoing agreement with the Bio-Manguinhos/Fiocruz Institute, via Partnership for Productive Development (PDP), to supply the drug to the public market through technology transfer.