Recife, January 21, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The Pernambuco Pharmaceutical Laboratory (Latepe) will begin to manufacture benzonidizol, a remedy used in the treatment of Chagas disease.

The agreement will be signed tomorrow by the governments of Pernambuco and Acre. Through this measure, Latepe will become the world's only producer of the medication.

The patent for benzonidizol, which belonged to the Swiss multinational corporation, Roche, was transferred to the government of Acre.

The state secretary of Health, Guilherme Robalinho, president of Lafepe, said that the plan is to pay greatest attention to countries in Africa and Asia, which have the greatest need for the drug. He explained that commercialization will be carried out through the World Health Organization (WHO) and non-governmental institutions, which will be responsible for distributing the medication around the world. (DAS)