London. 19.11.20. The seminar Bringing Cuban biopharma to patients around the world- a new Cuban-British joint venture was held yesterday in this capital city. Sponsored by the Caribbean Council think tank, the event presented the newly created company Biofarma Innovations, a joint venture partnership between BioCubaFarma and the Salamanca Group, which served as a platform to show Cuba's advances in the biotechnology sector and the country's potential in the production of innovative medicines.
The seminar included participants like Lord David Triesman, co-chairman of the Cuba Initiative, Chris Bennett, Managing Director of the Caribbean Council and Merardo Pujol, Business Development Director of Heber Biotec SA. Debates covered the history of the island in the sector, as well as the advantages of this partnership between the United Kingdom and BioCubaFarma, Cuban organization of the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries that manages and coordinates national efforts to produce medicines, medical equipment and provide high-quality science services of great economic and social impact. Both parties benefit from valuable cooperation, taking advantage of the British trade and legal experience applied to the innovation work carried out by the Cuban side. The commercialization of pharmaceutical products was also examined, together with the protection of intellectual property and the opportunities to expand this relationship and bring Cuban medicines to many more patients around the world.
Emphasis was placed on the participation of Cuban science in confronting the pandemic, the successful use of Cuban biotechnological products as part of the protocol for treating the disease in Cuba and other countries, and the development of three vaccine candidates against Covid-19, two of which are already in the clinical trials phase. Likewise, it was emphasized, in particular, that all these results were achieved despite the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States on the island, intensified in times of pandemic and which has prevented Cuban investigations from advancing more quickly.
At the event, it was announced that the Cuban Chamber of Commerce and the British Embassy in Cuba will hold a joint event on December 11 in Havana to present the company and the opportunities it offers.