Biotechnology for health sovereignty: local and sustainable production of nucleoside analogues through biocatalysis

Abstract

The structural dependence of Latin American countries on imported pharmaceutical active ingredients limits timely access to essential medicines and weakens response capacity in the face of health crises. This paper presents a review of the developments carried out at the Laboratory of Research in Sustainable Biotechnology (LIBioS) of the National University of Quilmes, aimed at the local and sustainable production of high-therapeutic-value nucleoside analogues —such as fludarabine, cladribine, decitabine, ribavirin, floxuridine and idoxuridine— through biocatalysis using whole cells or recombinant enzymes. The methodological strategies employed are described: microbial screening on an in-house strain collection, reaction optimization, immobilization on biodegradable and nanostructured matrices, bioreactor scale-up, and recombinant enzyme production. The developed biocatalysts reached high conversion levels, operational stability (up to 2100 reuses) and prolonged storage (up to 18 months). The potential of this platform as a sustainable and decentralized alternative for the productive reconversion of the pharmaceutical sector is discussed, in line with the historical demands for technological sovereignty in health in the region.