A evolução recente da indústria farmacêutica brasileira nos limites da subordinação econômica / The recent evolution of the Brazilian pharmaceutical industry in the limits of economic subordination

Resumo Este artigo apresenta a evolução da indústria farmacêutica brasileira e da balança comercial entre 1996 e 2014 e discute possibilidades de mudanças na política industrial farmacêutica. Os pressupostos da pesquisa foram: que as possibilidades industriais para o setor estão fortemente conectadas com o cenário internacional; e que este piorou a partir dos anos 1990, tornando o país mais vulnerável. As fontes utilizadas foram a Pesquisa Industrial Anual, do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia Estatística, e os dados da balança comercial do Sistema de Análise das Informações, do Ministério da Indústria, Comércio Exterior e Serviços. Os valores foram deflacionados e corrigidos para desconsiderar a influência da inflação. Os resultados demonstraram que há um desequilíbrio entre a evolução das indústrias farmoquímica e de medicamentos para uso humano em relação à das indústrias voltadas para medicamentos veterinários e de produtos químicos para o agronegócio. A balança comercial mostrou-se crescentemente deficitária para produtos farmacêuticos para uso humano. Os resultados corroboraram tanto a hipótese de crescente subordinação econômica quanto os pressupostos do estudo acima apontados.

Abstract This study shows the results of the development of the Brazilian Pharmaceutical Industry and trade balance between 1996 and 2014, discussing possibilities of changes in Brazilian industrial policies. The research had two assumptions: industrial possibilities are strongly connected with the international scenario, which has worsened since the 1990s, leaving the country more vulnerable. The data sources were the Annual Industrial Survey of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics and the Foreign Trade Information System from the Ministry of Industry. The values were adjusted not to consider the inflation. The results show that there was a big imbalance between the performances of the human pharmaceutical products and pharmochemical industries in regards to those focused on the production of chemicals and veterinary pharmaceutical products, in favor of these last ones. The trade balance data show a large and growing trade deficit for medicines for human use. The results corroborated the hypothesis of growing international subordination of the Brazilian pharmaceutical industry and the assumptions mentioned above.

Integrated processes for use of pulps and lignins obtained from sugarcane bagasse and straw: a review of recent efforts in Brazil.

Sugarcane bagasse and straw can be converted into pulps, oils, controlled-release formulations, chelating agents, and composites. This article reviews bagasse and straw conversion efforts in Brazil. Laboratory-scale processes were developed aiming at the integral use of these biomass byprod ucts. Organosolv pulping and oxidation of lignin are the most promising processes for the rational use of sugarcane residues. Fungal pretreatment and spectroscopic characterization are also discussed.

[Chemical safety, health, and environment: prospects for governance in the Brazilian context]. / Segurança química, saúde e ambiente: perspectivas para a governança no contexto brasileiro.

Chemical safety is acknowledged by Agenda 21 as one of the most serious problems worldwide, involving governance at the national and international levels. In Brazil, chemical safety problems have increased in intensity and extent, far beyond the capacity to deal with them. The problems are all the more serious in Brazil because issues of democracy, security, sustainability, and equity, all fundamental to governance, are still incipient and still far from being solved. New societal arrangements and a new, contextualized and more participatory science form the basis for developing and expanding strategies for governance to deal with the problem of chemical safety.

Hazardous pesticides in Central America.

Pesticides are an extensively documented occupational and environmental hazard in Central America. Yet, severe problems persist. Toxic pesticide use in the Region increased during 1985-1999. High exposure levels and ineffectiveness of personal protective equipment evidence the difficulties for risk reduction. Acute poisonings remain a severe problem. Delayed and/or long-lasting health effects include dermatoses, cancer, and genotoxic, neurotoxic, and respiratory effects. The use of hazardous pesticides persists through deficiencies in government-driven assessment and risk management; excessive focus on regional harmonization; short-term economic interests; strong links between industry and governments; aggressive marketing; weak trade unions; and failure of universities to reach decision makers. Regulation based on local data is lacking. An agreement of the Ministries of Health for restricting the most toxic pesticides in Central America has potential for progress. The most effective way to reduce risk is to greatly reduce pesticide use. Actions needed include development of multidisciplinary strategies for local studies on health and environmental impact of pesticides; development of sustainable nonchemical agricultural technologies; evaluation of interventions; extending and sharing of expertise within the Region; strengthening of unions and communities; and redefining the role of industry toward development of safer products, with responsible marketing and reliable information.

[Public health and chemical-pharmaceutical companies]. / Saúde pública e as empresas químico-farmacêuticas.

This article is concerned with the establishment of the Brazilian pharmaceutical industry. It addresses some issues of relevance to social-economic history, such as the emergence of the public health system, procedures for combating infectious disease, the relations between disinfection campaigns and the chemical industry, serotherapy and the production of serums and vaccines by public research institutions and private pharmaceutical companies. Focusing on the private pharmaceutical industry in Brazil, with special reference to the Instituto Pinheiros - Produtos Terapêuticos S.A., this article highlights the relations between scientists technology and product development. It also considers the debate which involved the scientific community and some governmental research institutions for public health policy development in the state of São Paulo.