Very harmful, contract with Sanofi: owner of Birmex

The public-private partnership contract between the Biological and Reactive laboratories of Mexico (Birmex) and Sanofi It was very harmful to the Mexican State. It is valid for 15 years and will end in 2032. During this period, the company has the exclusivity to sell 15 million influenza vaccines and more than one million hexavalent vaccines each year to the Ministry of Health, reported the director of Birmex, Jens. Pedro Lohmann.

In exchange, the parastatal was going to receive technology transfer for the manufacture of the biological against flu, but changes were made in the PAN and PRI governments, and the only thing left was the commitment to transfer the conditioning plant (packaging and packaging).

The official indicated that at some point the antigen plant built by Sanofi in Ocoyoacac, state of Mexico, which was inaugurated in October 2010, was excluded from the agreement as part of a broad agreement that began in 2009 and even involved the governments of Mexico and France, where Sanofi’s headquarters is located.

The objective was for the country to achieve independence and self-sufficiency in the supply of influenza vaccine in the event of a possible new pandemic. The original agreement contained the commitment of Sanofi to build the antigen plant, and Birmex to build the packaging plant. They would begin operations in 2012, but only Sanofi fulfilled its part.

At Birmex there were a series of administrative irregularities that caused million-dollar damage to public finances, which was documented by the Superior Audit of the Federation.

Several modifications were made to the agreement and in the end the association contract remained, with which Sanofi was in charge of the construction of the conditioning plant in Cuautitlán, state of Mexico. In exchange, he obtained a commitment from Birmex to purchase the influenza vaccines. Afterwards, the hexavalent product was added (against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, poliomyelitis, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type B), which is part of the universal vaccination program.

In an interview, Lohmann explained that when he arrived at Birmex, at the end of 2021, he found the contract. We analyzed it, it had some imperfections. Sanofi was open to talk and define the route to followbut that contract It was very harmful to the State.

As a result of the renegotiation, the parastatal managed to start the transfer now and not in 2032. The official acknowledged that the progress is very littlesince only six workers are at the Cuautitlán plant to learn about the process and the use of the machinery.

The number of personnel will increase little by little, so that in 2032 the transfer will be complete, without losing continuity in production.

In the renegotiation of the contract, in the administration of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Birmex also managed to get Sanofi to sell the vaccines at the same price to all public sector institutions. Each year, around 30 million doses are provided and applied in the winter season.

The agreement indicates the commitment to sell to Birmex and it, in turn, signed a contract for the annual sale of 15 million biological products with the National Center for Child and Adolescent Health, also valid for 15 years and a pre-established price.