Brazil moves towards 100% national production of blood-derived medicines.
The new Hemobrás factory, inaugurated by Lula and Padilha, guarantees self-sufficiency and sovereignty in the supply of essential medicines to the SUS (Brazilian Public Health System).
247 - Brazil took a decisive step towards independence in the pharmaceutical sector with the inauguration, this Thursday (14), of the new plant of the Brazilian Hemoderivatives and Biotechnology Company (Hemobrás), in Goiana (PE). The information is from Gov Agency, which highlighted the R$ 1,9 billion investment in the unit, responsible for producing vital medicines from human plasma collected through voluntary donations.
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva participated in the ceremony alongside the Minister of Health, Alexandre Padilha, and celebrated the milestone for national sovereignty. "Bringing Hemobrás here was a political decision, like so many others we made to ensure that the Northeast has the same opportunities as any other region. Today, Hemobrás is the largest blood products factory in Latin America, a symbol of our sovereignty and the capacity of the Brazilian people.", he stated. He further emphasized that "A sovereign country needs to take care of education, guarantee food, and ensure health for all.".
Domestic production and strategic medicines
With its start of operations, Hemobrás will manufacture high-cost medications such as Albumin, Immunoglobulin, and Coagulation Factors VIII and IX from human plasma. These supplies are essential in the treatment of severe burns, hemophilia, rare diseases, ICU admissions, and major surgeries.
Minister Alexandre Padilha celebrated the impact on the Unified Health System (SUS). "Today we celebrate the 'S' of health, of the SUS (Brazilian Public Health System), of security, and of sovereignty. Hemobrás demonstrates the strength and potential of the Brazilian Northeast, guaranteeing essential medicines to save lives.", said.
According to the president of the state-owned company, Ana Paula Menezes, the impact goes beyond production. "The new blood products plant is not just a pharmaceutical factory, it's a factory of citizenship. Voluntarily donated plasma returns in the form of essential medicines, guaranteeing sovereignty, social justice, and autonomy.", he said.
Capacity and goals
In 2024, Hemobrás delivered a record 552 vials of blood products and 870 million International Units of recombinant medicines to the SUS (Brazilian Public Health System). With the new plant, the forecast is to fractionate up to 500 liters of plasma per year and manufacture six types of medicines, drastically reducing external dependence.
The plan is to scale up production until, by 2027, Brazil achieves 100% domestic manufacturing of at least six blood products — including albumin, immunoglobulin, plasma factors VIII and IX, prothrombin complex, and von Willebrand factor. More than 30 people with coagulopathies will directly benefit, in addition to millions of Brazilians who need treatment with albumin and immunoglobulin.
Health security and strengthening of the SUS (Brazilian Public Health System)
The industrial complex now includes blocks B02 and B03, responsible for plasma fractionation, packaging, and freeze-drying. Process qualification begins immediately, with the expectation that plasma will be fractionated domestically as early as next year.
Currently, Hemobrás collects surplus plasma from 72 public blood centers and hemotherapy services throughout the country. Previously, this material was sent abroad for processing. Now, the initiative boosts the national biotechnology industry and strengthens the Health Economic-Industrial Complex.
