Teachers from the Department of Biotechnology and General Chemical Technology (GCT) at S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University completed a professional development course at Antigen Scientific and Production Enterprise LLP on biological safety and international standards for the development and production of immunobiological preparations.
A memorandum of cooperation has been signed between KazNMU named after S.D. Asfendiyarov and Antigen Scientific and Production Enterprise LLP, according to which students of the School of Pharmacy visit the plant’s workshops and laboratories during their internships and complete their diploma and master’s theses. Teachers from KazNMU named after S.D. Asfendiyarov participate in joint scientific research with company employees and improve their qualifications through training courses.
Antigen LLP has a training centre that specialises in training specialists, improving qualifications and developing practical skills in the biotechnology and food industries. The centre provides training in biological safety and biological protection, biotechnology and food safety. Training is provided in the form of practical training sessions and master classes. Consulting and auditing services are also provided. More than 840 specialists underwent training in biosafety in 2024.
Antigen LLP successfully operates in the field of creating and producing sought-after means of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of infectious diseases in humans and farm animals.
Antigen LLP is dynamically and fruitfully developing cooperation with a number of scientific, educational and manufacturing organisations in the fields of medicine, veterinary medicine and biotechnology, including the leading medical university, the S.D. Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University.
During the advanced training course at Antigen LLP, teachers from the Department of Biotechnology and OHT visited the company’s research laboratories and production workshops.
The presentations given by company employees during the training were interesting and informative. The training was conducted in both online and offline formats. The topics covered in the advanced training course are very relevant for the department’s staff.
The Department of Biotechnology and OHT was established in August 2022, and since its opening, lecturers have been teaching a course on ‘Fundamentals of Biological Safety in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing.’
The problem of biological safety in modern conditions is determined primarily by the emergence of new modern risks, challenges and threats associated with mutations of bacterial and viral pathogens, the emergence of new infectious diseases, and the active development of biotechnological pharmaceutical production. The recent COVID-2019 pandemic has demonstrated the need to review the format of work on the prevention and control of biological threats and the importance of this area for every country.
Antigen LLP, founded in 1998, is a Kazakhstani research and production company operating at the intersection of biotechnology, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, and medicine. The company’s specialists develop and manufacture immunobiological preparations and diagnostic test systems that meet the most stringent international GMP, GLP and GDP standards. The products are developed taking into account the unique characteristics of the epidemiological situation in the region and are successfully used both in Kazakhstan and abroad. During the pandemic, the company, together with the new OtarBioPharm biopharmaceutical plant, produced the domestic Kazakhstani QazVac vaccine.
The company’s activities are based on many years of experience in laboratory diagnostics, microbiology, immunology and biotechnology.
Antigen LLP develops vaccines, diagnostic systems and biotechnological preparations for veterinary and human medicine. The company has a modern laboratory and technological base and implements ambitious scientific projects and international cooperation.
In 2013, Antigen LLP won the national competition ‘Industry Leader 2013’ for achieving effective work and high social activity of enterprises. The President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, K.K. Tokayev, personally presented diplomas and awards to the winners of the competition.
Key areas of activity of Antigen LLP:
- Development of new biotechnological solutions to combat infectious diseases of viral, bacterial and parasitic aetiology.
- Production of immunobiological preparations and diagnostic test systems that ensure safety and effectiveness at every stage.
- Introduction of innovative products to improve epidemiological safety in society and the agricultural sector.
The company’s testing centre includes the following laboratories:
- physical and chemical research methods;
- biotechnology;
- molecular biology;
- microbiology;
- virology;
- Cellular biotechnology;
- Immunobiotechnology;
- Parasitology;
- Quality control.
The testing centre’s research focuses on:
- Medicines;
- Immunobiological preparations;
- Medical devices;
- Medical products;
- Honey and bee products;
- Poultry meat and eggs;
- oil, oil raw materials and fats;
- feed and feed additives;
- meat, milk and their products.
The following areas of research are particularly relevant and interesting:
– the study of lactobacilli and yeasts from camel and mare’s milk and their biotechnological potential;
– development and production of vaccines in accordance with international GMP standards (inactivated, live, recombinant, vector);
– development of new biotechnological products based on immunoglobulins and nanoantibodies.
