Our History
Review CinnaGen's history from the first dreams to today's achievements.
CinnaGen's history began in the 1990s with four young visionaries—four educated individuals who believed that anything accomplished in the world could also be achieved in this land. At a time when 'biotechnology' was an unfamiliar term in Iran, this group ignited the spark of a great dream: a dream to transform the lives of thousands of patients.
The Beginning
This is us embracing the old and familiar CinnaGen logo—a symbol of biotechnology that, in embracing it, seems to embrace us as well.
- In those small rooms, Iran's first Taq polymerase enzymes and PCR kits were manufactured.
- There, for the first time in the Middle East, monoclonal diagnostic blood group antibodies were produced.
In the mid-2000s, CinnaGen decided to enter biopharmaceutical production. After negotiations, a technology transfer agreement was signed with the Fraunhofer Institute, and thus the project for Iran's first biopharmaceutical drug for treating multiple sclerosis began.
Change of course
Beta interferon contract signing ceremony, Fraunhofer Institute, Stuttgart.
The first step was selecting and preparing land in the Simindasht Industrial Complex. A four-story factory with a floor area of 3,002 square meters, designed according to GMP standards, was built. Construction was completed in ten months, and the SD1 site was inaugurated in June 2004 in the presence of the then Deputy Minister of Health. In November 2005, inspectors from the Food and Drug Administration visited, and in 2006, GMP certification was obtained.
After clinical studies, our drug was approved and ready to enter the market. The name 'CinnoVex' was chosen for the drug—a combination of CinnaGen and Avonex, reflecting both the drug's Iranian roots and its connection to a global standard. In November 2006, the first batch of CinnoVex with batch number 8528010 was produced at Samen Pharmaceutical Company in Mashhad; this batch included 3,000 clear vials with red caps.
It was decided that the entire production process, from filling to lyophilization, would be carried out completely at the Simindasht site. In May 2007, approximately 7,000 vials of beta interferon were fully produced at CinnaGen. In 2012, CinnoVex became the first Iranian biopharmaceutical drug to receive approval for entry into Russia. The project to build CinnaGen's second production site, following EMA standards, began, and this facility, named SD2, became operational in 16 months. In 2013, Cinnal-F and PegaGen drugs were unveiled in the fields of infertility and cancer, respectively.
CinnoVex became the first Iranian biotechnology drug to receive approval for entry into Russia.
The project to build CinnaGen's second production site began in compliance with EMA standards. This facility, named SD2, became operational in just 16 months.
In 2013, Cinnal-F and PegaGen drugs were unveiled and entered the market; Cinnal-F in the field of infertility treatment and PegaGen in the field of cancer.
CinnaGen's logo was redesigned based on the antibody form and golden ratio to make our visual identity clearer and more unified.
CinnoVex 10th Anniversary
With the presence of doctors and neurologists of the country
CinnaGen received EU-GMP certification for the first time in Iran and the Middle East.
CinnaGen's first pharmaceutical shipments reached Africa, and two years later, drug exports to Latin America began.
With the introduction and launch of ZakAria to the market, we entered the field of one of the most important and best-selling biological drugs for cancer treatment.
With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, production at CinnaGen continued uninterrupted to ensure continuous drug delivery to patients. ReciGen, which was previously produced for MS treatment, entered clinical trials at Masih Daneshvari Medical Center as a potential COVID-19 treatment and was able to reduce mortality by approximately one-fifth; its production capacity then increased more than sevenfold. SpikoGen also, after completing clinical studies and producing its first industrial batch, with emergency use authorization, became one of the country's main tools against COVID-19.
Standing firm in the storm
SpikoGen vaccine is the result of a joint collaboration with Vaxine Australia
Development of drugs such as Ablyze (for rare blood diseases like PNH and aHUS) and Herozyme (for patients with MPS I). The production of such drugs symbolizes our deep commitment to treatment accessibility for patients in need. Patients who may be 'few in number' in economic calculations but are infinitely valuable from a humanitarian perspective.
With the launch of Spartina, CinnaGen for the first time was able to complete the peptide synthesis process using domestic technology and bring the product to market.
During the 12-day conflict, production at CinnaGen continued without interruption. During this period, more than 1.1 million units of medicine were produced. Of this amount, more than 800,000 units were in the formulation and filling section and more than 370,000 units were in the packaging section. The number of present staff varied from more than 1,000 on the busiest day to approximately 120 on the most difficult day.
Flying in an unsettled sky
Production continued even in wartime conditions.
With the production and launch of Alentiva, CinnaGen achieved advanced liposomal drug delivery technology—a technology that enables targeted drug delivery with higher efficacy.
CinnaGen Selected as the EU Partner Laboratory
EMA has issued a positive opinion recommending the approval of Zandoriah® (teriparatide), CinnaGen’s biosimilar to Forsteo®. Developed in line with the EU’s strict regulatory standards, Zandoriah® reflects CinnaGen’s growing alignment with global benchmarks and marks an important step in its international expansion. Following final approval, it is expected to be available across the European Economic Area.
CinnaGen Enters the European Market
Zandoriah® plays a key role in managing osteoporosis.
