Brazil’s Biomm Pharma signs agreement with Chinese CanSino to import Covid-19 vaccine

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Brazilian pharmaceutical company Biomm has signed an agreement with the Chinese CanSino Biologics to market in Brazil the Covid-19 vaccine Convidecia.

According to the company’s president, Heraldo Marchezini, at first, the contract foresees only the importation of the immunizer, as soon as the National Health Regulatory Agency (Anvisa) authorizes its emergency use in the country, with subsequent technology transfer to the Brazilian company.

“Now, we are going to request emergency use from Anvisa. This is a vaccine already used in several countries, such as Chile, Mexico, and Argentina. And it has already been applied to more than 40,000 people around the world. Besides, there is proof of efficacy in three publications of [the scientific journal] The Lancet and six other clinical studies in progress around the world. I believe we will have the application approved,” said the executive.

Marchezini did not reveal how much will be imported because, according to him, this will depend on an agreement that Biomm should seek with the Ministry of Health as soon as it gets approval from Anvisa.

“The vaccine has proven efficacy of 69% after 14 days of application and is 95% effective for severe cases of the disease. In addition, it is a single-dose immunizer. We know that Covid is here to stay, and we must have annual vaccination campaigns. This vaccine is another option for the Brazilian government,” said the president of Biomm.

If Anvisa’s approval is granted, the agreement foresees a second stage: technology transfer to the Brazilian company. Biomm says it can produce 20 million 10 ml vials per year and another 20 million 3 ml ampoules in its biofactory in Nova Lima (MG).

There will be no significant additional investments in this project because the large investments have already been made in the plant’s construction. In all, the unit consumed US$90 million, according to the executive.

“The presentations of the vaccines used in Brazil are multi-dose, and we can produce them here in the country. Another aspect of the contract is that we will have access to the total CanSino portfolio. There are 16 more vaccines in development for 13 distinct diseases.”

CanSino Biologics’ vaccine was developed from the so-called “adenovirus type 5”, one of the mildest respiratory system viruses that cause symptoms similar to the common cold and is the most widely used viral vector in clinical studies worldwide.

A genetically modified human adenovirus type 5 vector carries the information necessary to synthesize new coronavirus proteins and thereby stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies against Covid-19.

With single-dose application and storage in an ordinary refrigerator (between 2 and 8 degrees Celsius), this vaccine is being adopted by several markets. Clinical studies have been conducted in Pakistan, Russia, Chile, Argentina, and Mexico.

The immunizer has received approvals in several countries, including Mexico, Pakistan, Hungary, Chile, Ecuador, Argentina, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Kyrgyzstan. The price of the vaccine will be compatible with other options already on the Brazilian market, according to Biomm.

CanSino was one of the companies mentioned in the Parliamentary Inquiry Commission (CPI) of Covid. The company had an agreement with Belcher from the state of Paraná, which was accused of overpricing Covid-19 tests sent to the Ministry of Health.

The sales agent even signed a letter of intent to buy 60 million doses of the Chinese vaccine with the Paranaense company. Given the accusations, CanSino broke the agreement with Belcher in July.

BIOMM PHARMA

Founded in 2001, during a split-up process of a major global insulin manufacturer, Biomm is the first and only Brazilian company totally focused on biotechnology.

Its production site is located in Nova Lima, in the metropolitan area of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais state.