The Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Industries Group, BioCubaFarma, reported 315 million dollars in revenues in 2018, and was granted 116 new patents abroad, according to its director Eduardo Martínez.

The President of the Councils of State and Ministers Miguel Diaz-Canel said during a meeting with officials of this business group that the challenges include consolidating the biopharmaceutical industry as one of the activities with the greatest export capacity in the Cuban economy.

In 2018 the increase in the production levels of the entity allowed to reduce in approximately 40% the shortages of medicines in Cuba, in comparison with the two previous years, said Doctor Martinez.

Ensuring stability in the basic table of drugs, continuing to develop complex investments and diversify products and markets are priorities of the Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Industries Group BioCubaFarma, said Diaz-Canel Bermudez.

Doctor Martinez spoke about the projects developed by this institution in human health, veterinary, and agriculture, whose results are remarkable.

He mentioned among them those aimed at the prevention and treatment of diseases such as cancer.

He also acknowledged the advances in the CIGB-Mariel Biotechnology Industrial Complex and the completion of some investments that began operations in 2018, and others that will begin this year.

BioCubaFarma comprises 34 companies and over 20,000 workers with the social objet of researching, producing, testing and selling of biotechnological products.