Hemispherx And GP Pharm Start Manufacturing Operation In Argentina

Hemispherx Biopharma has announced that it has entered into an agreement with GP Pharm to start a manufacturing operation in Argentina. The manufacturing operation will serve Latin American and ancillary markets, and the companies consider it an important step forward towards ANMAT’s manufacturing approval. The companies are also discussing the possibility of establishing manufacturing capacity for Alferon N in Argentina.

Previously, in 2010, the companies had entered into a marketing, distribution, and supply agreement for Ampligen in certain Latin American nations. That agreement extended to include Mexico in December of the same year. Ampligen is a drug for chronic fatigue syndrome, which has few treatments available. Chronic fatigue syndrome has no known cause, and can’t be explained by any underlying medical condition. Patients suffering from the condition have extreme fatigue, headaches, and unexplained muscle pain. Ampligen still must undergo stability testing in order to gain the ANMAT regulatory body’s approval for manufacturing the drug in Argentina.

The companies have also worked together on other projects, as they also entered into a sales, marketing, distribution, and supply agreement for Hemispherx’s natural interferon, Alferon N in the year 2010.

Jorge Braver, the CEO of GP Pharm, says that this agreement could benefit Argentinian pharma companies in particular. “This agreement is important for an Argentinian pharmaceutical company because it establishes the potential to manufacture products which originate outside Argentina. This agreement has the potential to create jobs in Argentina and import technology and expertise in the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical fields and will expand our presence, over time, in new South American markets pending approval,” he said.

Thomas Equels, the Executive Vice Chairman of Hemispherx, echoed the sentiments. He stated that the agreement will help to improve the company’s ability to provide products to various Latin American markets.