Fiocruz signs partnership for the treatment of hepatitis C

An important step towards the treatment of hepatitis C. The Institute of Drug Technology (Farmanguinhos/Fiocruz) signed (5/2) a new partnership for the technological transfer of the drug Daclatasvir. This formalization allows expanding access to the drug deemed strategic for the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). According to the special issue of the Epidemiological Bulletin of Viral Hepatitis, published in June 2022, 718,651 confirmed cases of viral hepatitis were reported in the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN) in Brazil between 2000 and 2021. Of these, 279,872 (38.9%) refer to diagnoses of hepatitis C. The same bulletin presents data regarding the mortality rate caused by the disease:

The coordinator of Technological Development, Alessandra Esteves, and  the director of Farmanguinhos, Jorge Mendonça: Daclatasvir is strategic for the Brazilian Unified Health System (photo: Lean Marques/ Farmanguinhos/Fiocruz)

Currently, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that hepatitis C treatment be available to all individuals diagnosed with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, regardless of the stage of the disease, preferably using drugs classified as pangenotypic, which is the case of the treatment with Sofosbuvir + Daclatasvir. “Farmanguinhos is already registered with the [Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency] Anvisa for the drug Sofosbuvir, also the result of a Production Development Partnership, and it now focuses on the complement of the treatment, with Daclatasvir. These two partnerships support the Health Economic-Industrial Complex [Ceis] and national independence in the treatment of hepatitis”, explains the coordinator of Technological Development at Farmanguinhos/Fiocruz, Alessandra Esteves.

To this end, Farmanguinhos/Fiocruz will absorb the technology offered by Blanver S.A., which will be responsible for sharing information and providing technical assistance to the Institute, in addition to supplying the drug throughout the process. This cooperation will reach the facilities for the manufacture, production, control and quality assurance of Daclatasvir, for the achievement of technological autonomy and the development of the national and regional production system in the health area.

Sustainable Development Goal

The partnership helps Farmanguinhos/Fiocruz contribute to the goals of the World Health Organization (WHO). This is because the elimination of viral hepatitis is based on the global goals established by the institution and is in line with the 2030 Agenda for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They are: the reduction of new infections by 90% and the mortality attributable to hepatitis by 65%.

Still according to the epidemiological bulletin from the Ministry of Health, it is necessary to perform the diagnosis of 90% of the cases, as well as the treatment of 80%, in order to achieve these goals. “The availability of this treatment option strengthens the Ceis and brings another effective alternative for the treatment of hepatitis C to SUS”, said the director of the Fiocruz unit, Jorge Mendonça.