Iran inaugurates Middle-East's largest pharmaceutical plant

Iran on Monday inaugurated the first phase of the Middle-East's largest pharmaceutical factory near the Western city of Azna in Lorestan province.
The 'Bayer Aflak Azna' plant was inaugurated by Iranian First Vice-President Eshaq Jahangiri this morning.
The first phase of the plant has progressed 98% and the production lines which mass-produce penicillin, syrup and sterile ointment were inaugurated as they were ready to launch operation at full capacity.
A part of the plant which produces various pharmaceutical products for human beings has made 38% of progress. This part will eventually have 12 production lines which will launch operation in future. The most important production line in this part will manufacture synthesized anti-cancer medicines.
Iran has taken wide strides in science and technology, particularly in medical and medicinal fields, in recent years.
Earlier this year, Iranian Deputy Health Minister for Research and Technology Mostafa Qaneyee announced that Iran will start mass-production of 10 new home-made biomedicines in the next few years.
“These 10 drugs include medicines to treat cancer, infertility, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, MS, Crohn's disease, gout, hemophilia and diabetic ulcers and have applications in healing wounds and burns and blood production,” Qaneyee said.
“A number of the mentioned medicines have applications as multipurpose drugs for treating diseases like cancer, as well as (diseases caused during) chemotherapy stages and hepatitis C,” he added.
“The industrial and semi-industrial stages of producing the mentioned drugs will be gradually completed between the next 2 to 3 years,” Qanayee underlined.
Also, a senior official said in July that Iran plans to produce 10 new biomedicines in the current Iranian year (started March 21).
“We have produced 14 new-generation drugs so far and we will produce another 10 new medicines in the current year,” Head of Iran's Scientific Basij Organization Mahmoud Tavalayee told FNA on the sidelines of the 8th National Biotechnology Seminar in Tehran.