By the end of the year, OJSC «BelVitunipharma» plans to begin preclinical trials of the domestic vaccine against COVID-19
Another working meeting was held at the construction site of the future vaccine production plant on August 18 with the participation of the Chairman of the Regional Executive Committee Alexander Subbotin and the Minister of Health of Belarus Dmitry Pinevich. The current situation and problematic issues of project implementation, the schedules for the completion of construction work and equipment delivery, as well as the specifics of vaccine production and technology transfer directly to the site in Dolzha were discussed. Due to the sanctions imposed against Belarus, the equipment delivery schedule has been changed, the head of the region explained.
— The increased attention to the project implementation is simple — it is here that the high-tech future of Belarus is being formed. The foundation is being laid for the development of promising areas of science, production, and export. In other words, there are many growth points here, — emphasized Alexander Subbotin. — The implementation of plans is not going as fast as we would like, which is primarily due to the sanctions pressure on our country. Not all promises and signed contracts are being fulfilled, we have to build new logistics chains for equipment supply, and solve other emerging issues manually. That is why working meetings are held directly at the production site in an in-person format twice a week. In order to synchronize efforts, to see where help is needed, including with the involvement of administrative resources.
As Dmitry Pinevich noted, thanks to the fact that work on the first and second start-up complexes is being carried out in parallel, there is an opportunity to reduce the time lag in the project implementation schedule.
— Despite the delays, the pilot batch of the vaccine should go for preclinical trials at the end of 2022, — emphasized Dmitry Pinevich.
In addition, today scientists of the RSPC of Epidemiology and Microbiology, together with employees of BelVitunipharm OJSC, are carrying out preparatory work to develop the technology for producing an experimental industrial series. As explained by the director of the RSPC, Vladimir Gorbunov, the modernization of the eighth floor of the BelVitunipharm production building, previously unused, will create a kind of testing ground for the production of the first experimental batch of vaccine and the development of technological regulations. After product testing, it will be transferred to a more powerful production site being built on the same site nearby. The head of the RSPC emphasized the importance of developing this area for Belarus.
— The creation of vaccine production for humans is a big step forward and a breakthrough in ensuring the country's biological security. Given that many vaccines are produced on the same equipment, the created site will be universal and will allow the production of other drugs, — added Vladimir Gorbunov.
