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03.11.08
» BNDES supports with BRL 7.2 million COPPETEC research on blood derivates
• Result should benefit hemophiliacs and patients undergoing cancer and AIDS
treatment.
BNDES's Directors have approved a financing, under the Funtec program (Technologic Fund), to Fundação Coordenação de Projetos, Pesquisas e Estudos Tecnológicos [Technological Projects, Researches and Studies Coordination Foundation] - COPPETEC -, in the amount of BRL 7.2 million. The non-reimbursable resources are destined to the "Development of Recombinant Medications for Use in Hemathology/Hemotherapy" project, a partnership of the Hemobrás company and of Laboratory of Cellular Cultivation Engineering of COPPE/UFRJ.
The objective is to develop innovative technologies for the production of two blood factors and of one hematopoetic stimulator, obtained through genetic engineering, which are of great importance for patients with hemophilia, cancer and AIDS. This involves high- productivity national technology for the manufacturing of three recombinant biomedications: blood factors VIII and IX and the biomedication known as G-CSF.
For the treatment of A and B hemophilia, blood coagulation factors obtained from the industrial fractioning of human plasma are traditionally used. Blood coagulation factors VIII and IX are a protein of the coagulation system used for treatment of types A and B hemophilia, respectively. Hemophilia is a genetic disease in which patients lack one of these proteins. Brazil currently imports plasma-derived factors VIII and IX, in order to meet the daily treatment needs of 7,000 hemophiliacs.
The new technology to be developed at UFRJ may allow Hemobrás to start producing, with national technology, the blood factors known as recombinant factors, obtained from genetically modified cells. These factors, besides being highly safe and effective, can be produced in the quantities required to meet patients' demand. There is no limitation of raw material availability, as is the case with factors produced from the plasma of blood donors.
The biomedication G-CSF is used for the treatment of white blood cells defficiencies, after chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantations. The consequence of these treatments is a dramatic reduction of the patients' white blood cells, which exposes them to serious infections and therefore to the risk of dying from such infections. Recombinant G-CSF would have a large market, in Brazil and abroad.
The biomedications to be developed are strategic to the National Health Policy. The Brazilian Governement spends approximately BRL 200 million every year with the importation of blood factors VIII and IX.
The development of these technologies shall be carried out in three years and, by the end of this period, Hemobrás shall promote pre-clinical and clinical studies to prove the efficacy and safety of the products. Upon completion of this stage, the objective is to obtain registration with the National Sanitary Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) and implement a plant for the production of recombinant biomedications.
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