• The Spanish pharmaceutical group Grifols, in partnership with the Andorran government, wants to build by 2023 a “high security” laboratory within the principality.

  • The establishment of these facilities raises serious concerns among the population of the small Pyrenean state, but also among environmentalists and political representatives.

In 2023, the small Pyrenean state of Andorra should host a P3 high security laboratory.

Presented as an “international benchmark” in the field of immunology, the Pyrenees Immunology Research Center (PYIRC) project of the Spanish pharmaceutical group Grifols is raising many concerns within the principality.

World leader in plasma drugs, the Barcelona group presented on Wednesday in Ordino, the city where these research facilities will be located, the outlines of the future laboratory.

Si no vau poder seguir la reunió informativa d'ahir per explicar el future Center de Recerca en Immunologia de Grifols that will be implanted in Ordino, podeu recuperar-la íntegra aquí: https://t.co/94b72NSSCh@XavierEspot @ordinoesviu

- Govern d'Andorra (@GovernAndorra) June 10, 2021

According to the manufacturer, who will invest 25 million euros in this equipment, it will be "one of the few research centers dedicated to immunology in Europe, and will serve as an international reference for the development of treatments for disorders of the system. immune ”.

Legislation and referendum

An installation in the heart of a site classified as a “biosphere reserve” by Unesco, which is far from unanimous.

Residents, but also environmental activists and political leaders are asking the government to organize a referendum on the project, which still has some gray areas.

For now, uncertainties remain about the types of infectious material and pathogenic agents that will be used. For the deputy Carine Montaner, the choice of Andorra, a country "which does not yet have a bioethics law" calls out. And the elected representative regrets that the government is considering the establishment of a "legislative framework" only after signing the agreement with Grifols several weeks ago.

“We did not come to Andorra for its more flexible legislation.

Or to do things that we dare not do in other countries ”, reacted for his part Daniel Fleta, director of the industrial department of Grifols, during the public meeting.

Recognizing that with such a project "zero risk does not exist" in terms of security, Xavier Espot, the head of the partner government with 20% in this project, however swept the referendum request.

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  • Spain

  • Society

  • Laboratory

  • Research

  • Toulouse

  • Andorra

  • Pharmaceutical industry