The Brazilian Company of Blood Products and Biotechnology (Hemobrás) and the Chinese company Tiantan Bio have recently signed, in São Paulo, a cooperation agreement to expand the supply of immunoglobulin in Brazil and develop domestic production of the medicine.

Produced from human plasma, immunoglobulin is used in the treatment of immunodeficiencies, bacterial infections and certain types of blood cancer. The partnership aims to contribute to entirely domestic production.

The agreement provides for the registration in Brazil of a human immunoglobulin for intravenous administration, its supply to Hemobrás, and licensing and technology transfer activities. The initiatives must meet the requirements of the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa). The details of the supply and technology transfer are still to be defined in specific agreements.

Tiantan Bio is also expected to support the modernisation of Hemobrás's systems and processes through digital transformation, automation and intelligent management. The objective is to strengthen technological and productive capacity and the supply of blood products to the Unified Health System (SUS).

In parallel, with an investment of 116 million reais, the Brazilian Ministry of Health has distributed 604 pieces of equipment to 125 blood therapy services across the federation's 27 units. Plasma storage capacity for industrial use is expected to increase by around 30%, with the aim of supporting domestic production of blood products and reducing the SUS's external dependence.

(Source: China2Brazil, 13 October)