Iran, Cuba mull production of vaccines, diabetes medicine

Cuba has sent a delegation of top experts in genetic engineering and biotechnology to Iran to inspect the country’s infrastructure and facilitate cooperation in various fields, including in production of vaccines and diabetes drugs. 

The visit reciprocates a trip by the Iranian Vice President for Science, Technology, and Knowledge-Based Economy Ruhollah Dehghani Firouzabadi to the Caribbean country in late September. 

The three-man team from Cuba’s leading biotechnology holding BioCubaFarma visited Iranian knowledge-based companies. 

Luis Herrera, the president of the company, told the Communication and Information Center of the Iranian vice president’s office that biotechnology cooperation between Tehran and Havana is not limited to the recent joint venture to produce a COVID-19 vaccine, but dates back to the 1990s. 

He also said, “The centers we visited in Iran were of a high scientific level. The Iranian government’s policy of using knowledge-based companies to meet domestic needs has been positive.” 

Herrera also said the grounds are ready for both countries to step up collaboration in various biotechnological fields, even agriculture, to make joint products for exports to other countries.