The Institute of Technology on Immunobiologicals (Bio-Manguinhos) is the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) unit responsible for research, innovation, technological development and the production of vaccines, in vitro diagnostic kits and biopharmaceuticals aimed at primarily meeting the demands of national public health. The Institute's Technological Vaccine Complex, one of the largest production centers in Latin America, installed on Fiocruz campus, guarantees self-sufficiency in essential vaccines for the basic immunization schedule of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. The Institute also contributes with the public health of several countries, mainly by the export of the yellow fever vaccine, pre-qualified by WHO.
Founded in 1976, Bio-Manguinhos has an outstanding role in the international scenario, not only for exporting its surplus production to more than 70 countries, through the United Nations agencies. Since 2001, the Institute's yellow fever vaccine has been pre-qualified by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be supplied to other nations. The joint initiatives are not restricted to the supply of vaccines for international immunization programs, they also encompass the exchange of experiences and information, technical-scientific events, partnerships and cooperation.
Bio-Manguinhos' competences go beyond the production of immunobiologicals. The continuous investment in the innovation chain and in technological development is another hallmark of the Institute, as well as the mastery of cutting-edge technologies and advanced production processes. Partnerships with other institutions - public and private - guarantee technology transfer and technological development agreements, contributing to the evolution of the Institute's projects. Compliance with the requirements of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) as well as the quality certification of its laboratories make the Institute an important agent for the improvement of public health in the country.
With a well-established industrial park and high-skilled professionals, Bio-Manguinhos plays an essencial role in the supply of products to public health. In 2021, the Institute provided more than 233 million doses of vaccines – being 153 million doses of the Covid-19 (recombinant) vaccine to the Brazilian National Immunization Program (PNI), besides 5.4 million vials/syringes of biopharmaceuticals and 26.5 million in vitro diagnostic tests to other programs of the Ministry of Health. Bio-Manguinhos provides the population access to high-tech immunobiologicals and contribute to guaranteeing national self-sufficiency in their production.
To maintain the level of excellence, investment in the expansion and modernization of infrastructure and the acquisition of new equipment are constant. A new campus - the Industrial Complex for Biotechnology in Health (CIBS) - is being built in the industrial district of Santa Cruz, West Zone of Rio de Janeiro, on an area of 580 thousand m2. Its production capacity is estimated on 120 million vials of vaccines and biopharmaceuticals/year, in different presentations (quantitative doses per vial).
The investment also extends to the training of its workforce, either through the Professional Master's in Immunobiological Technology (MPTI); the Training Course for Health Biosafety Inspectors; or the Annual Training Program. In addition to knowledge, the Institute seeks to ensure quality of life through programs that aim physical and mental well-being.
Besides this, since 2008, through Bio-Manguinhos’ Social-Environmental Responsibility Project, 640 young people from neighboring areas have already been served by the "Growing with Manguinhos" and "Entrepreneur's Workshop" projects, which also include parents and/or guardians. Participants have access to educational workshops, computer and music classes, library, tutoring and comprehensive health actions.
For all of this, around 2,300 employees, including public servants, outsourced workers and scholarship holders, work at the Institute to keep it as a reference in public health, playing a strategic role for Brazil. Its consolidated position in the market legitimizes its actions and give path to an even more promising future.
*Data from January, 2022.
