Brazilian Company to Produce NASA-Developed Ventilator
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – A partnership of the Brazilian pharmaceutical company Russer and the National Service of Industrial Learning (SENAI) will enable the production of lung ventilators based on a project developed by the United States Space Agency (NASA).
The equipment is used in the treatment of Covid-19 patients, in more severe conditions that need support to ensure breathing.
The certification by the National Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA) was granted last week. Initially, Russer should produce 300 lung ventilators per month. There is still no projection of when the product will reach the market.
According to Rafael Lucchesi, Senai’s general director, the advantage of the ventilator is its price. While the average market price is between R$50,000 (US$10,000) and R$60,000, this one should cost R$20,000.
In addition to its price, the project will expand domestic production. “It is a robust advantage and will have a domestic components chain and this is important for its production”, said Lucchesi.
The project started when the company and SENAI entered a public bid from NASA to sign partnerships for the production of the device, developed by Jet Propulsion Laboratory engineers.
Initially, 331 companies from several countries were selected. In a second round, 28 companies were selected, Russer and SENAI among them. NASA will not charge royalties during the pandemic.
SENAI’s general director said that the organization joined the project when it recognized the difficulty to obtain this equipment in the international market, due to the high demand caused by the pandemic.
“It is a critical piece of equipment for Covid-19. It is traditionally used in ICUs [Intensive Care Units]. It has become famous because this contagious disease creates an infection in the lung and it is a crucial device,” he told Agência Brasil.
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