Pharmaceutical development and Research

Idiomas

02/05/2013

Major groups of drugs

a) antibiotic - a substance, derived primarily from living microorganisms, that inhibits or kills other microorganisms,
b) Anti-inflammatory refers to the property of a substance or treatment that reduces inflammation. Anti-inflammatory drugs make up about half of analgesics, remedying pain by reducing inflammation ,
c) Analgesic - a drug that relieves pain.
d) Antipyretic - drugs that reduce fever,
e) Antidepressant - a drug used to treat depression.
f) Anti-Anxiety - a synthetic drug used to relieve anxiety and tension.

The pharmaceutical industry needs to invest more in research, experts say. After suffering with the opening of trade in the 90´s, the Brazilian pharmaceutical industry has regained its strength, but still finds one of its biggest challenges in research development. The Brazilian Ministry invested R$ 700 million over five years with the hiring of 3,000 innovation projects. The value is still low compared to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of about R$ 3 trillion, but it is an important start, as experts presented at the seminar 'Paths to funding and access to health', promoted by Value in partnership with the Association of Pharmaceutical Industry Research (Interfarma).

The trade deficit for the industry is almost US $ 3.5 billion. Worldwide, the average investment in innovation in the pharmaceutical industry reached 21% of its revenue, while other sectors invest about 5%.This industry has to invest, otherwise it dies, says Jorge Kalil, director of the Laboratory of Immunology, Heart Institute. It calls attention to the fact that, despite the weight of Brazil's GDP in the world, the country ranks only the 17th position in clinical research of medicines, which is the assisted application of drugs in patients.

Pharmaceutical innovation is a high risk investment, but guarantees significant returns. Kalil says that to develop a drug, you need to invest approximately US$ 1 billion. Out of 10 thousand molecules synthesized, only one will be sold, he said. Along with the high cost, another problem in the Brazilian market is that of the approval process for clinical research takes very long - up to 14 months, while in developed countries the period is three to four months.
The granting of patents is another challenge to pharmaceutical innovation that needs to gain more flexibility and give bettter guarantee to investors, according to Jorge Ávila, President of the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI). Despite the sector regulatory framework is modern, Avila says there is a series of restrictions on the granting of patents in biotechnology that have been generating insecurity in the market. The process takes about five years and the delay creates uncertainty inhibiting research.

According to him, keeping restrictions on patents is part of a thought which views the country more as an importer of technology other than investor. Thus, the patent would signify cost, and not incentive. Protecting intellectual property is important to encourage development, and in Brazil there are some deficiencies in this protection, he says.

Even with these difficulties, Brazil has success stories in pharmaceutical investment in the country. One example is the Recepta Biopharma, a company in research development and clinical trials of medicines for cancer treatment. Created in October 2006, it is the first and only Brazilian company to conduct the second phase of a clinical trial in cancer patients. The company has already invested R$ 18 million and this year another additional R$ 7 million. It is a big challenge, but we are in a growing market, says José Fernando Perez, director of the company.

Egresso from the Foundation for Research Support of São Paulo (FAPESP), says that one of the important points to develop innovation in the industry is to have interaction between academic universe and the industry. This bridge is still very weak in the country, says Perez.

Reinaldo Guimarães, Secretary of Science of the Health Ministry, notes that the pharmaceutical industry is among the six strategic of the industrial policy in Brazil, says Perez. The government itself is interested in developing technology to reduce drug spending, which currently represents 13% of the Health Ministry´s budget.
(Samantha Maia, Valor Econômico, 08/06/2010- adapted)

http://saudefloripa33pj.wordpress.com/2010/06/08/industria-farmaceutica-precisa-investir-mais-em-pesquisa-dizem-especialistas/, accessed at nov.2010