The beginning of a long journey: with the support of PROMOMED Group, the Federal Center for the Development of Biotechnology and Medicine was opened in Mordovia

The purpose of the center is to localize the development and ensure a full cycle of production of new biotechnological drugs in Russia, including for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases.

"We are faced with the reality that there has never been a single such project in the country. The centers that opened earlier only supported the development of biosimilars, that is, they provided affordable prices for modern medicines. This is important and necessary, but it is not yet a breakthrough. And what happened today is a breakthrough! A research center has been opened specifically for the development phase, the place where the latest drugs will appear," he notedPeter Bely, Chairman of the Board of Directors of PROMOMED Group.

The total amount of funds raised for the creation of the center amounted to 300 million rubles, of which 125.2 million was a special part of the Priority 2030 program.

"The opening of the Federal Center for the Development of Biotechnologies and Medicine is an important event, which we were preparing for for a reason. We have the strong support of our President and serious tasks from him, for which we are responsible. The operation of this project opens up new opportunities for import substitution and export of medical services. I hope that this will allow the university to strengthen its position in the Priority 2030 project and achieve success in both the scientific and financial fields. This is just the beginning of a long journey," he stressed.Artyom Zdunov, Head of the Republic of Mordovia.

At the moment, the first part of the center has been created and put into operation. It includes laboratories for microbiology, genetically engineered biological products and cellular technologies and is designed to ensure the development of key stages of production and quality control of biotechnological drugs in Russia.

The center's infrastructure will also include an educational unit and a university clinic. It will become a platform for mastering the practical skills of medical students, chemists, biotechnologists and pharmacists. A team of students has already been formed, which proved itself in the work of the International Youth Workshop at Sirius University, and also participated in clinical trials conducted jointly with the Medical Institute.

This year, it is planned to accredit the center's existing laboratories, build a vivarium, and continue work on preclinical and clinical trials of new medicines. All this is aimed at ensuring a full cycle of production of new drugs in Russia and achieving its drug sovereignty.