Health Ministry unveils 23 pharma products with $43m import savings
Iran’s Ministry of Health and Medical Education unveiled on Saturday as many as 23 pharmaceutical products by the Barkat Pharmaceutical Group, which would lead to foreign exchange savings of $43 million.
The products, which were predominantly imported, scarce or unavailable in the past, reached the stage of domestic production and self-sufficiency by leveraging domestic capabilities. The medicines represent a significant step towards increasing patients' access to specialized medicines and reducing dependency on imports, as reported by IRNA.
“Today, 23 medicines and vaccines were unveiled, among which the quadrivalent Gardasil vaccine is one of the most important for preventing human papillomavirus disease,” Health Minister Mohammad Reza Zafarghandi said at the ceremony.
Highlighting the significant capacity of the Barkat Pharmaceutical Group, Zafarqandi emphasized, "Valuable measures have been undertaken in the Barakat Pharmaceutical Group. These facilities have provided a suitable opportunity for pharmaceutical companies to develop their activities and investments."
"As of today, seven new cancer treatment drugs will enter the market, produced in well-equipped facilities; furthermore, with the efforts witnessed, new drugs in the fields of cardiovascular, neurological, and psychiatric diseases have entered the country's pharmaceutical and health market," Zafarqandi added.
According to IRNA, in the field of anti-cancer drugs, medicines such as Gefitinib, Zoledronic Acid, Abiraterone, Plerixafor, Gemcitabine, Regorafenib, and Macitentan have achieved domestic production. Additionally, in the cardiovascular drugs section, Indapamide and Sacubitril/Valsartan drugs have been introduced.
In the neurology and psychiatry field, production of equivalents to foreign drugs has commenced. In the supplements and herbal products section, diverse products have been manufactured.
In the vaccine sector, the Gardasil vaccine for preventing HPV (Human Papillomavirus) infection has been introduced, which can be effective in reducing the risk of cervical cancer and genital warts. Furthermore, in the cell therapy field, two important products titled "WhartoCell" and "LaViCell" have been developed.
According to the report, in the anesthesia and operating room drug category, Ropivacaine and Lubricaine Gel drugs have been produced. Also, two important active pharmaceutical ingredients, Desloratadine and Pregabalin, have been domestically manufactured. Alongside these products, Artificial Saliva Spray has also been introduced as another product.
The achievements have resulted in foreign exchange savings equivalent to $43 million through import substitution and is considered a landmark in the country's path towards pharmaceutical self-sufficiency.