The most recent developments include new production capabilities in the public sector, and a licence agreement between GTC and Bio Sidus in the private sector.
Pharmaceutical R&D activities in the public sector are focused on biotechnology. Historically, investments have been low, concentrated on basic science and developed by public institutions which do not co-operate with the private sector. Recent developments affecting the biologic sector, however, include the plan to create the Pilar Biotechnology Park; the installation of a plant for the production of vaccines against seasonal influenza and influenza A (H1N1), in co-operation with the private sector; and technology transference for the local production of the yellow fever vaccine in Argentina.
In the private sector, GTC Biotherapeutics and the Argentine Bio Sidus, part of the Sidus Group, entered into a registration licence agreement in May 2010 under which Bio Sidus will perform all necessary actions to obtain sales authorisations for GTC's lead product, the recombinant human antithrombin ATryn. A product licence agreement for the supply of material and marketing rights will be negotiated separately. It is anticipated that the review process in Argentina will be completed within a fast-tracked period of no less than six months from the filing of the dossier with the regulatory authorities.
Further reading - A detailed analysis of the Argentinian pharmaceutical market is available from Espicom: The Pharmaceutical Market: Argentina (published May 2010)