The National Center for Biopreparations (BioCen) will reach 30 years on August 14. This institution, located in Bejucal, in the Cuban province of Mayabeque, is one of the main banners of the cuban sciencewith a visible role during the pandemic.
Belonging to the Business Group of the Biotechnological and Pharmaceutical Industries of Cuba (BioCubaFarma), BioCen has a recognized track record and important scientific and productive results throughout its three decades of existence, since it was founded in 1992. Due to its performance, it has national and foreign certifications that guarantee compliance with good production practices, and was also recognized as one of the first high-tech companies on the Island.
In addition to the experience and quality of its staff, it has top-level technological equipment for the industrial manufacture of different active pharmaceutical ingredients, and the development of programs linked to the biotechnological and medical device industry, nanotechnology and neurosciences.
Its lines of work include microbiological diagnosis, allergies, immunomodulators, antianemics and Alzheimer’s treatment, as well as the manufacture of vaccines and drugs created by other scientific centers in Cuba, although in the last two years it has played a fundamental role in the production of drugs and immunogens to prevent and deal with COVID-19.
Among its most recognized products is Biomodulin T, used to boost immunity, especially in vulnerable people and which was included in the prevention protocol and for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 positive patients. Similarly, his specialists created an innovative Transport Medium for Viruses (BTV), for the collection and transfer of clinical samples suspected of containing the coronavirus.
In addition, its facilities assumed the production of the doses of the Sovereign anticovid vaccines, developed by the Finlay Institute. Up to 300,000 daily doses of this group of vaccines have been manufactured at BioCen, a fundamental contribution to the development of the mass vaccination campaign carried out on the Island, which has made it possible to achieve high levels of immunization against the infectious disease.
This week, BioCen opened its doors to the press and our photojournalist Otmaro Rodríguez traveled to its facilities, bringing us closer with his snapshots to the production of Sovereign vaccines and other aspects of the work of a center that constitutes a benchmark of the Cuban scientific system.
