Russia and Cuba are taking their scientific and production partnership to a new level: the countries have agreed to establish a first-of-its-kind biopharmaceutical joint venture named Synergia Global Biofarmaceutica. The uniqueness of the project lies in the fact that the innovative site will be located directly within the territory of the Russian Federation.
Full Cycle: From Lab to Pharmacy
The agreement to establish the enterprise was a practical result of a working visit by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Russian LLC “BKF” to Cuba, during which he visited the specialized state corporation BioCubaFarma Business Group. The new entity, Synergia Global Biofarmaceutica, will undertake the full cycle of work: from primary scientific research and molecule development to the final commercialization of biopharmaceutical products.
The main goal of this large-scale project is to accelerate the creation of medicines that meet the highest priority healthcare needs of both states. However, the partners’ ambitions extend far beyond bilateral cooperation. It is planned that the manufactured drugs will be supplied to provide assistance to patients not only in Russia and Cuba but also in extensive regions of Eurasia and Latin America.
Key Therapeutic Areas
The vector of work for the new pharmaceutical enterprise has already been determined. Initial joint projects will focus on developing high-tech medicines in the following areas:
- Oncology;
- Brain diseases;
- Autoimmune pathologies;
- Other severe chronic non-communicable diseases.
The management of BioCubaFarma corporation emphasized that both parties have taken on strict commitments: to make all possible efforts to ensure that innovative drugs promptly reach target patient groups and have a real positive impact on their health.
Status of Negotiations at the Highest Level
The details of the strategic partnership were discussed at the highest level—with the participation of Cuban politician Eduardo Martínez Díaz, as well as Cuba’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment, Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga.
Speaking on April 1st in St. Petersburg at the plenary session of the intergovernmental Russian-Cuban commission on trade-economic and scientific-technical cooperation, Oscar Pérez-Oliva confirmed the active work on the project:
“The negotiation process continues for the creation of the joint venture Synergia Global Biofarmaceutica.”
— Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment of Cuba
Experts and negotiators note that the launch of the first such enterprise on Russian soil has colossal strategic importance for pharmaceutical independence. Furthermore, this business project clearly reflects continuity in the bonds of historical brotherhood between the peoples and governments of Russia and Cuba.
