President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko visited OJSC "BelVitunipharma", where it is planned to organize the production of a Belarusian vaccine against COVID-19
President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko visited OJSC "BelVitunipharm" in the Vitebsk region, where it is planned to organize the production of a Belarusian vaccine against COVID-19.
To produce the vaccine, the enterprise intends to build a new building, and the territory for this has already been prepared. For now, the development of the drug is planned on a specially prepared floor in the main building of "BelVitunipharm". Upon arrival at the enterprise, Alexander Lukashenko inquired about how the production of the coronavirus vaccine would be organized, which enterprises would be involved in this work, and at what stages. "Today we need to treat COVID, and tomorrow - another infection. So that we can, having received the vaccine, multiply it here, produce it in larger quantities," the President noted. The head of state said that Russian and Chinese vaccines against COVID-19 are currently very popular in the world. He emphasized that the Belarusian vaccine should also have high efficacy.
At "BelVitunipharm", the discussion also covered the current activities of the enterprise, the development of vaccine production for animals, and other veterinary drugs. It was noted that the registration of new vaccines takes two to three years, during which time a foreign drug manages to enter the market. Therefore, the enterprise proposed to improve the procedure for registering domestic antiviral drugs for animals. "Prepare all decisions within a month, so that they are adopted in September," the President instructed. "We will close this issue by the end of the year. Control is with Kosinets."
Under the wing of "BelVitunipharm" is also a farm in Богушевск. Alexander Lukashenko believes that the enterprise will be able to take under its care several more collective farms.call. This would also increase the amount of land owned by the company. "You have a very powerful enterprise. Smart people, many people - they would handle it. And we could help with equipment, we would build cattle sheds. This issue needs to be considered," suggested Alexander Lukashenko. "I'm not saying you should put a burden on him that would crush him. I want to use your brains, by loading them, for related purposes."
Currently, OJSC "BelVitunipharm" is a high-tech, specialized biological production facility in the field of veterinary medicine. The enterprise offers more than 150 types of veterinary drugs (sera, viral and bacterial vaccines, medicinal products) and meets approximately 50% of the country's needs from the total volume of veterinary drugs used in Belarus.
Regarding the expected production of vaccines for humans, specialists state that it is a global practice for drugs for animals and humans to be produced within the same company. A prime example is the world-renowned company Pfizer.
"We are talking about a joint venture with 'Belmedpreparaty' - a completely new enterprise, which will incorporate the experience of 'Belmedpreparaty' in human medicine. And ours - in the biological industry. The new enterprise will produce vaccines for humans using modern equipment without any connection to the animal world. The only connection here is the work experience. There is still a certain similarity. Vaccines for humans and animals are 90% similar in production aspects. There is no difference in production," Sergey Bolshakov, Director of OJSC "BelVitunipharm," told reporters.
In turn, Sergey Belyaev, General Director of RUE "Belmedpreparaty," stated that the production is planned in two stages. The first is pilot production, where laboratory technology will be adapted for industrial production needs. "At the first stage, two sites are planned to be involved. This is 'BelVitunipharm,' considering their experience with vaccine preparations. They will produce the active component. And at 'Belmedpreparaty,' it will be assembledthe vaccine as a medicinal product and to release the finished form. These samples will have to undergo clinical trials in order to study their efficacy and safety in human studies."
Sergey Belyaev noted that RUP "Belmedpreparaty" has experience working with vaccine products – the Russian vaccine against COVID-19 "Sputnik V" is currently being produced. "This (production of a domestic vaccine. – Ed. BELTA) will be a very similar process. The only difference will be additional stages for assembling the vaccine product," he said. "The peculiarity of producing our own vaccine is that we will be less dependent on the supply of the substance from foreign countries. We will have Belarusian production of a Belarusian vaccine. And this is one of the most important guarantees of the country's provision with vaccines here and now – against coronavirus infection, and in the future, against other challenges."
The head of RUP "Belmedpreparaty" clarified that for the production of the domestic vaccine, only separate raw materials will be purchased abroad, such as nutrient media and filters.
It is too early to talk about production volumes. Currently, it can only be stated that a vaccine prototype has been created and a technological approach has been determined, which will be implemented for vaccine production. "At the moment, enterprises have joined in order to develop an industrial technology based on laboratory technology. So that this vaccine retains its properties, remains effective and safe. And our task is to make it economically feasible for production," explained Sergey Belyaev.
He added that relevant issues will be considered at the level of the head of state during his visit to the enterprise near Vitebsk. "We will summarize the work done and set tasks, followed by planning. In case of positive decisions, we will continue our work," said the head.
To produce the vaccine, the enterprise intends to build a new building, and the territory for this has already been prepared. For now, the development of the drug is planned on a specially prepared floor in the main building of "BelVitunipharm". Upon arrival at the enterprise, Alexander Lukashenko inquired about how the production of the coronavirus vaccine would be organized, which enterprises would be involved in this work, and at what stages. "Today we need to treat COVID, and tomorrow - another infection. So that we can, having received the vaccine, multiply it here, produce it in larger quantities," the President noted. The head of state said that Russian and Chinese vaccines against COVID-19 are currently very popular in the world. He emphasized that the Belarusian vaccine should also have high efficacy.
Alexander Lukashenko was also informed about the current epidemiological situation in Belarus and the progress of vaccination of the population. According to the Minister of Health Dmitry Pinevich, the incidence of coronavirus in the country today is slightly more than 73 cases per 100 thousand population per week. For comparison, in Russia as a whole, the incidence of coronavirus is 107 cases per 100 thousand population (in Moscow - 162 cases, in St. Petersburg - 248 cases).
At "BelVitunipharm", the discussion also covered the current activities of the enterprise, the development of vaccine production for animals, and other veterinary drugs. It was noted that the registration of new vaccines takes two to three years, during which time a foreign drug manages to enter the market. Therefore, the enterprise proposed to improve the procedure for registering domestic antiviral drugs for animals. "Prepare all decisions within a month, so that they are adopted in September," the President instructed. "We will close this issue by the end of the year. Control is with Kosinets."
Under the wing of "BelVitunipharm" is also a farm in Богушевск. Alexander Lukashenko believes that the enterprise will be able to take under its care several more collective farms.call. This would also increase the amount of land owned by the company. "You have a very powerful enterprise. Smart people, many people - they would handle it. And we could help with equipment, we would build cattle sheds. This issue needs to be considered," suggested Alexander Lukashenko. "I'm not saying you should put a burden on him that would crush him. I want to use your brains, by loading them, for related purposes."
Currently, OJSC "BelVitunipharm" is a high-tech, specialized biological production facility in the field of veterinary medicine. The enterprise offers more than 150 types of veterinary drugs (sera, viral and bacterial vaccines, medicinal products) and meets approximately 50% of the country's needs from the total volume of veterinary drugs used in Belarus.
Regarding the expected production of vaccines for humans, specialists state that it is a global practice for drugs for animals and humans to be produced within the same company. A prime example is the world-renowned company Pfizer.
"We are talking about a joint venture with 'Belmedpreparaty' - a completely new enterprise, which will incorporate the experience of 'Belmedpreparaty' in human medicine. And ours - in the biological industry. The new enterprise will produce vaccines for humans using modern equipment without any connection to the animal world. The only connection here is the work experience. There is still a certain similarity. Vaccines for humans and animals are 90% similar in production aspects. There is no difference in production," Sergey Bolshakov, Director of OJSC "BelVitunipharm," told reporters.
In turn, Sergey Belyaev, General Director of RUE "Belmedpreparaty," stated that the production is planned in two stages. The first is pilot production, where laboratory technology will be adapted for industrial production needs. "At the first stage, two sites are planned to be involved. This is 'BelVitunipharm,' considering their experience with vaccine preparations. They will produce the active component. And at 'Belmedpreparaty,' it will be assembledthe vaccine as a medicinal product and to release the finished form. These samples will have to undergo clinical trials in order to study their efficacy and safety in human studies."
Sergey Belyaev noted that RUP "Belmedpreparaty" has experience working with vaccine products – the Russian vaccine against COVID-19 "Sputnik V" is currently being produced. "This (production of a domestic vaccine. – Ed. BELTA) will be a very similar process. The only difference will be additional stages for assembling the vaccine product," he said. "The peculiarity of producing our own vaccine is that we will be less dependent on the supply of the substance from foreign countries. We will have Belarusian production of a Belarusian vaccine. And this is one of the most important guarantees of the country's provision with vaccines here and now – against coronavirus infection, and in the future, against other challenges."
The head of RUP "Belmedpreparaty" clarified that for the production of the domestic vaccine, only separate raw materials will be purchased abroad, such as nutrient media and filters.
It is too early to talk about production volumes. Currently, it can only be stated that a vaccine prototype has been created and a technological approach has been determined, which will be implemented for vaccine production. "At the moment, enterprises have joined in order to develop an industrial technology based on laboratory technology. So that this vaccine retains its properties, remains effective and safe. And our task is to make it economically feasible for production," explained Sergey Belyaev.
He added that relevant issues will be considered at the level of the head of state during his visit to the enterprise near Vitebsk. "We will summarize the work done and set tasks, followed by planning. In case of positive decisions, we will continue our work," said the head.
- Lukashenko on the fight against COVID-19: there are no global reasons for concern in Belarus
- Lukashenko: there should be no mandatory COVID-19 vaccination in Belarus
- "There should be no complacency" - Lukashenko on COVID-19 incidence in Belarus
- Belarus plans to develop a base for the production of various vaccines, not only for COVID-19