• Submitted by: manso
• Business and Economy
• 09 / 21 / 2010

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HAVANA, Cuba, Sept 20 (acn) A new plant to produce therapeutic monoclonal antibodies will soon begin operations in Havana after a successful construction stage.

The facility was completely designed by Cuban specialists and it has state-of-the-art technology that will allow producing medicines to treat cancer culturing cells from mammals, which is only done in five of six countries all over the world.

According to Granma newspaper, this plant will multiply by ten the original productive capacity of the Havana-based Center of Molecular Immunology.

The director of the plant, Dr. David Curbelo Rodriguez, said the staff is basically comprised of chemical and biochemical engineers as well as highly qualified technicians or specialists in chemistry and industrial pharmacy.

Curbelo added that one of the main purposes of the center is to meet the high national demand and the ever increasing export demand of the monoclonal antibody Nimotuzumab, used in the treatment of advanced esophagus, head and brain tumors. It is registered in 25 countries and clinical trials are currently underway in the United States, Japan, Canada and Germany.
 
Source: ACN