Vitebsk Biopharma Factory to complete production modernization in April 2010

March 10, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA/. The Vitebsk Biopharmaceutical Plant will complete the technological modernization of its production in April this year, as reported to BELTA correspondent by Arkady Yudasin, Director of the private unitary enterprise "Vitebsk Biopharmaceutical Plant". The technical re-equipment and expansion of the Vitebsk Biopharmaceutical Plant are being carried out in accordance with the State Program for the Development of Production of Veterinary Drugs and Instruments Used in Veterinary Medicine. The program envisages the completion of the construction of the plant's main production building with a total area of 18.7 thousand sq.m and the equipping of new production facilities with modern technological equipment that meets GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) requirements. The first stage of the biopharmaceutical plant was commissioned in 2007. With the start of its operation, the enterprise mastered the production of hyperimmune sera, which allowed for complete import substitution of these drugs. The enterprise has completed commissioning work on the second stage and has begun commissioning work on the third stage. The second stage will produce finished dosage forms, bacterial vaccines, and infusion solutions for veterinary medicine. The third stage will establish the production of import-substituting viral vaccines to protect farm animals and poultry from infections. According to Arkady Yudasin, in accordance with the production technology, the second and third stages should be commissioned simultaneously. With their launch in April this year, large-scale technological reconstruction of production will be completed. The director recalled that the deadlines for the modernization of the plant had been postponed twice. The reasons for this were both construction deficiencies and the specifics of installing high-tech equipment. Upon reaching the plant's design capacity in 2011, the range of manufactured drugs will exceed 90 items, and the volume of manufactured products, almost half of which will be import-substituting, will amount to about Br40 billion. The export potential of the plant will increase. Already in 2009, the enterprise's exports increased fivefold compared to 2008. Vitebsk drugs are purchased in Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Turkey, and Kazakhstan. The Vitebsk Biopharmaceutical Plant was founded in 1930. It specializes in the production of complex therapeutic, prophylactic, and diagnostic drugs for veterinary medicine. According to the results of 2009, the production growth rate at comparable prices was 119.9%, production profitability reached 19.7%, and net profit exceeded Br1 billion (in 2008 it was Br468 million). The Vitebsk Biopharmaceutical Plant maintains high production rates in 2010. In January-February, the production growth rate at comparable prices compared to the same period in 2009 was 133.5%. -0-