FREEPORT, Grand Bahama ﾖ U.S. regulators have granted approval to Pharmachem Technologies, Freeportﾒs new pharmaceutical company to produce anti-AIDS drug components for a major U.S. company, Grand Bahama Port Authority President Willie Moss confirmed to the Bahama Journal.
The move will position Freeport as the regionﾴs production site in the multi-billion dollar global anti-retroviral industry.
ﾓItﾴs absolutely fabulous news that Pharmachem has, in fact, gotten the approval from the FDA to produce the drug Viread to deal with persons who have HIV,ﾒ she said.
ﾓIt is a tremendous milestone for us in Grand Bahama and Freeport, and we are now just waiting for the certificate in hand from the FDA [Federal Drug Administration] so that we can present it to the government,ﾒ she added.
Several months ago, the Bush administration in the United States reportedly gave approval to two major U.S. companies to produce anti-retroviral ﾓcomboﾒ drugs that officials say are only a cheaper form of treatment for HIV patients.
Viread is part of a combo drug produced by Gilead Sciences ﾖ Pharmachemﾴs customer in the U.S., according to Mrs. Moss.
The new combo drugs are reportedly expected to be used in the Bush administrationﾴs $15 billion global anti-AIDS program as well as by the World Health Organization [WHO] whose ﾓ3 by 5ﾒ initiative strives to get the drugs to 3 million HIV sufferers in poor and developing countries by 2005.
Mrs. Moss pointed out that Pharmachemﾴs operations will provide a number of highly specialized job opportunities for Bahamians.
The sentiment was welcomed news, particularly since some 4,000 people in Grand Bahama were out of work in the aftermath of hurricanes Frances and Jeanne. Employment opportunities are sorely needed.
ﾓIn the first instance, we will probably have about 50 people employed,ﾒ she said. ﾓIt is an extremely high end highly specialized field so you wonﾴt have a tremendous amount of labor.ﾒ
Mrs. Moss pointed out that the employment count at the facility could be at about 120 when one factors in the work that will be carried out by contractors and independent workers.
Prior to his death Monday, GBPA chairman Edward St. George expressed his hope to the Journal that talks with government would result in anti-AIDS drugs being produced for use in The Bahamas.
Government officials recently indicated that the war against AIDS in The Bahamas could cost as much as $23 million over the next three years.
In 2002, around 300 people were a part of the countryﾴs anti-retroviral program.
AIDS patients that used to pay around $14,000 per year for the anti-retrovirals, now pay a tenth of that cost, thanks to slashed rates.
The government already spends around $6 million every year to care for AIDS patients.
There are nearly 2 million people living with the disease in this region.
Sharon Williams, The Bahama Journal
