Helping to create unique drugs. Director of the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry – about contribution to economics and medicine

Alexey Yantsevich Topic news "Science must be ahead of its time!" - said the President of Belarus at a meeting with the working group for the analysis of the activities of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus. The HEAD of state requires greater practical orientation and effectiveness of scientific research and development, their implementation in the economy and social sphere. One of the divisions of the National Academy of Sciences - the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry - has been moving forward in this direction for several years. Its DIRECTOR, Alexey Yantsevich, told the publication about the contribution of the institution to the economy and medicine.

On government positions

- The most important social achievement of the institute was the production of antitumor drugs. Having created their production, we completely met the needs of the country. This is very important for us, because Belarus is a socially oriented state, - Alexey Yantsevich notes at the beginning of the conversation.

The drugs - from pharmaceutical substances to finished dosage forms - are created on the basis of the developments of the institute's scientists and are produced at its largest production site - the Scientific and Production Center "KhimPharmSintez". That is, the institute managed to organize a complete production chain. Other drugs are also manufactured at this site . Last year alone, using the original technologies of the Scientific and Production Center "KhimPharmSintez", over 200 kilograms of 11 types of pharmaceutical substances and 60 thousand vials of finished dosage forms were produced. In 2024 , the registration of four drugs in the Russian Federation was completed - bortezomib, clofarabine, nilotinib and sunitinib. New dosages of pazopanib and pemetrexed have been registered in Belarus.

- The Institute continues to work on expanding the range of manufactured products, - the interlocutor emphasizes. - In 2025, it is planned to register two more drug names in Belarus and four on the Russian market. In addition, the Scientific and Production Center "KhimPharmSintez" is a supplier of drug substances for other pharmaceutical companies in our country.

T-killer for cancer cells
According to scientists , there is no cure for cancer. Each type requires separate drugs.

- Oncological disease is to a large extent a pathology of the immune system, - notes Alexey Viktorovich. - It is known that cancer cells constantly arise in the body of every healthy person. But they are opposed by the immune system, which has special mechanisms that can recognize these cells and destroy them. When such a system fails, cancer cells begin to divide uncontrollably, and this is how cancer appears.

The first step in the fight against actively dividing cells was cytostatics – chemotherapy drugs. The Institute established their production by synthesizing analogs of nucleic acid components, the molecules of which, getting into actively dividing cancer cells of the body, were built into DNA and caused their death. However, not only cancer cells died, but also other actively dividing cells, including blood cells. The person suffered, his hair fell out. The Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus went further. Studying the mechanisms of oncology of various types, scientists came to the need to produce drugs for targeted therapy, the purpose of which is to stop the division (growth) of a cancer cell. Thus, on the basis of the Scientific and Production Center "KhimPharmSintez", the production of a number of generics - protein kinase inhibitors was created.

The third step was the development of cell therapy, which is based on the use of T-killer cells that destroy tumors. Scientists of the Institute, together with the Republican Scientific and Production Center of Oncology and Radiology named after N.N. Aleksandrov began collecting cells from the patient and supplying them with a special, coded module. The "trained" T-killer cell, returning to the patient's body , became a killer of cancer cells, that is, it killed them.

- We have already developed several designs of original antigen receptors that are successfully used by Belarusian oncologists to treat patients, - notes the importance of the new treatment principles Alexey Yantsevich. - By the way, these technologies have EXPORT potential. Medical tourism is developed in our country: cancer patients can come to us from abroad. Treatment is carried out on the basis of the technologies and drugs that we transferred to the N.N. Alexandrov Republican Scientific and Practical Center of Oncology and Medical Radiology.

The Institute has also developed and launched into serial production diagnostic kits for identifying genetic markers of disease risk. Hemosorbents are also regularly produced for the treatment of severe conditions, for example, for the removal of endotoxin in sepsis.

The success is based on the developments of scientific schools

. The production was not created out of thin air. Over the past 50 years, the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry has experienced a lot: the brain drain in the 1990s and a lack of funding. But the team managed to preserve the main thing – the scientific schools created by academicians Vladimir Khripach, Fyodor Lakhvich, corresponding members of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Belarus Sergey Usanov, Igor Mikhailopulo and Elena Kalinichenko.

– The developments of these schools helped create modern high-tech production facilities at the institute, the work of which is aimed at solving practical problems in economics and medicine.
One of them was the production of antitumor drugs, - says the director and specifies that within the framework of the State Program for Innovative Development of the Republic of Belarus for 2011-2015, the first full-cycle enterprise in Belarus was organized under the leadership of Elena Kalinichenko - the Scientific and Production Center "KhimPharmSintez" of the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus for the production of synthetic pharmaceutical substances and drugs based on them. Using the technologies developed with the direct participation of Elena Nikolaevna, more than 30 modern oncohematological drugs and pharmaceutical substances have been created and registered.

- Congratulations to Elena Nikolaevna, who has been working at the institute, one might say, from the very beginning of her career. During this time, she has made a huge contribution to Belarusian science and to the creation of the production of antitumor drugs in particular! - emphasizes Alexey Yantsevich.

Nature suggested the drug
SPC "KhimPharmSintez" was initially focused on the development of drugs for the hospital sector. Those that are used to treat patients in hospitals and are not sold in pharmacies.

- Such drugs, if they got on the pharmacy shelf, and from there into the hands of ordinary people who would decide to treat cancer on their own, would cause them more harm than good. Nevertheless, the institute also produces drugs for the pharmacy market. In particular, we have developed a drug for heartburn "Alginomax". The technology for its production has been transferred to the Belarusian company "Akademfarm". The drug is made on the basis of polysaccharides obtained from algae, - the interlocutor reports.

The fact is that bioorganic chemistry has one feature: to create something useful, you need to find the source material in nature. Alexey Yantsevich told us about the experience of cooperation between the institute and one of the partner scientific organizations - the Research Institute "Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences" (TIBOC), with which friendly scientific ties have been established and a joint project is being implemented.

- Today, many medicines are made on the basis of natural materials or compounds, and TIBOC was able to create a number of interesting biologically active preparations from marine species of microorganisms, animals, plants. In particular, algae, starfish and sea urchins living in this region of the globe. This approach is very important! - emphasized Alexey Viktorovich, demonstrating the plant growth stimulator "Epin", which is currently produced at one of the institute's plants by chemical synthesis from a by-product of biotechnological processes for the production of yeast.

The drug turned out to be environmentally safe, inexpensive, accessible - it is readily bought by farmers, greenhouse complexes, summer residents.

– In nature, it was first isolated from rapeseed pollen. But to obtain several micrograms of "Epin", up to 10 kg of pollen is required. We produce it in kilograms, – the interlocutor noted. – The drug provides an increase in crop yields, plant immunity, making them more resistant to adverse environmental factors, including drought.

Indoor plant lovers often buy a very effective drug "Fitovital" - a multicomponent stimulator of plant growth and development.

– Such "medicines" for plants as "Typhoon", "Bayfucid", "Efalamin", "Laert" are also widely known. These are all developments of scientists from our institute, – the interlocutor says.

MILK and feed suitability test The team of the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus has provided effective tools to a number of other sectors of the economy. In particular, test systems for determining antibiotics and mycotoxins in food and feed
have been developed and launched into serial production . – Test systems are in demand by both milk processors and livestock breeders. For example, if there is an antibiotic in milk , it cannot be used in the production process. You will not get kefir or sour cream from it, even after adding an expensive starter culture. It simply will not work, – emphasizes Alexey Yantsevich. – Mold is also a threat to food and feed, which can cause cirrhosis of the liver in both humans and animals if the products (feed) are contaminated with it due to violation of technologies and storage rules. Therefore, all processes of food and animal feed production are strictly controlled. The institute has the most modern equipment for conducting scientific research, producing medicines and other innovative import-substituting products. For example, the only NMR spectrometer in the Republic of Belarus that determines the structure of organic compounds. Thanks to the availability of unique equipment and the high level of competence of specialists, the institute provides a wide range of services to industrial enterprises and government agencies. Calling & motivation The Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, which currently employs about 250 people, earns a significant part of the costs necessary to ensure scientific activities and the production of diverse products independently. In particular, in 2024, the volume of imported pharmaceutical products produced amounted to over 5 million rubles. - Revenues from the sale of products and services make up two-thirds of our budget, and one-third are funds that the state allocates to us for scientific activities. In terms of production volumes, we are in first place for medicinal products, in second place - immunoassay systems for determining the presence of antibiotics and mycotoxins in food and feed,– says Alexey Yantsevich.










The institute's staff includes about 10 doctors of science, about 40 candidates of science, administrative and managerial personnel, several departments that ensure the effectiveness of science and the production of diverse import-substituting products. More than 40% of the researchers are young scientists.

- Every year, our institute is replenished with young people after graduating from universities, master's and postgraduate studies. We have to work hard with each such young scientist so that he can independently engage in scientific research and development, generate bold, new ideas. As a rule, the result is visible after five years of research and practical work, - notes the director of the institute.

Young personnel make a worthy contribution to the success of the institute. Those who are more persistent in scientific research and have noticeable achievements are noted by the leadership of the institution and the National Academy of Sciences. And even the head of state. Among such promising personnel is Veronika Shchur, a candidate of chemical sciences, who was awarded a scholarship of

the President of the Republic of Belarus, recognized as a laureate of the annual competition "100 young talents of the National Academy of Sciences".

– We try to organize work with young employees in such a way that they learn new things every day, while getting real results. After all, successes and achievements are an important motivating factor that allows you to understand that a person is on the right track, – emphasizes the director of the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the NAS of Belarus.

The other day, Elena Kalinichenko was awarded the title of "Scientist of the Year of the NAS of Belarus - 2024". She was awarded this title for the development of new scientific foundations for the synthesis of modified protein kinase inhibitors and the establishment of their mechanism of action, the creation of technologies for the production of antitumor drugs and the sale of pharmaceutical products with significant export potential.

Scientists of the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the NAS of Belarus, in cooperation with the Institute of Physiology, have created experimental samples of angiogenesis stimulators for the treatment of limbs affected by ischemia, as well as promising drugs. This work was included in the list of winners of the Top 10 competition of the National Academy of Sciences by the end of 2024.

Tamara MARKINA, photo by Sergey SHELEG