Fapesp makes agreement with laboratory
Folha de S. Paulo
Biolab and Fapesp (Foundation of Research Support of the State of São Paulo) have entered into a partnership for the funding if pharmaceutical research in universities. It is the first partnership of the Fapesp with a laboratory for the production of medicines and it is part of a program for the promotion of relationships between academic institutions and companies, the Pite (Research Partnership for Technological Innovation). In three years, the São Paulo Foundation and Biolab will invest together US$ 2.9 million (half each) on research.
"The pharmaceutical sector is strategic, and the Brazilian companies are still small if compared to the foreign companies", says Carlos Henrique de Brito Cruz, Scientific Director of the Fapesp. "That is why it is essential that the public authorities contribute for the researches in the sector". The public call for scientists to submit projects starts today and ends June 10. There is no restriction of themes, but Biolab should focus on research in the areas of Oncology, Antibiotics, Diabetes, Infections, and Cardiology, among others.
"We are open to any interesting project with potential to be turned into a medicine", says Dante Alário Júnior, Chief Scientist and one of the owners of Biolab. The PITE was created in 1995, but it only took off last year. Until 2009, 8.4 agreements were entered into, on average, a year. In 2010 they were 43. Almost 25% of the total amount invested since 2001 was made last year. US$ 27.3 million was paid (half paid by the Fapesp and half by companies), from a total of US$ 117.1 million. For 2011, the Fapesp is willing to disburse up to US$ 23.5 million, increasing the investment of the companies to US$ 47.1 million.
Biolab is one of the national laboratories that invest the most on research: 7% of the earnings, of US$ 346.6 million in 2010. This year, the company starts the construction of a new research center, in Taboão da Serra (Metropolitan Region of São Paulo), in an investment of US$ 29.4 million in two years. The center will have 5,000 square meters. The current features 1,500 square meters. The company already funds researches with universities and carries out others on its own. One of those researches, in nanotechnology, generated a 100 factor sunscreen, Photoprot 100. Another 12 products should get to the drugstores until 2011 - 10 result from its own research. Among them, an asthma medicine from a Lonomia toxin.