Instituto Butantan

The Institute

To research, develop, manufacture and supply products and services for the health of the population

To establish competencies to become the leading global manufacturer of biological products and advanced therapies.

Ethics
Commitment
Efficiency
Quality
Innovation

Improve efficiency in the production of biological products
Intensify the production of biological products by seeking partnerships
Seek continuous improvement of its management system
Minimize deviations from production processes
Disseminate and popularize science teaching

About us

With 123 years of history, Butantan works to prevent diseases like Covid-19, flu, tetanus, diphtheria, hepatitis A and B, chikungunya, whooping cough, dengue, HPV and rabies. In 2023, Butantan produced:

90 million doses of flu vaccine
31 million doses of vaccines against hepatitis A and B, HPV, DTaP and rabies
13 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine
600 thousand units of serum against venoms, bacterial toxins and the rabies virus
380 thousand units of the monoclonal antibody Adalimumab

Instituto Butantan is the main producer of immunobiologicals in Brazil. It is responsible for a considerable percentage of the national production of hyperimmune sera and vaccine antigens, which make up the vaccines used in the National Immunization Program (Programa Nacional de Imunizações, PNI) of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Our technological development activities in the production of health inputs are associated with the production of vaccines, antitoxins and antivenoms, and biopharmaceuticals for human use.

We export sera and vaccines for over 10 countries in Latin America and Europe.

Our course of action

The Institute develops studies and basic research in the areas of biology and biomedicine directly or indirectly related to public health;
It carries out national and international scientific missions through the World Health Organization (WHO), the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the United Nations (UN), and Unicef (United Nations International Emergency Fund for Children);
It contributes to the improvement of global health, in partnership with other agencies of the São Paulo State Department of Health and the Brazilian Ministry of Health;
It acts in partnership with several universities and entities to achieve its institutional goals, such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation;
It develops basic and applied research projects, such as studies on venomous animals, pathogens, innovation and modernization of production processes and control of immunobiologicals, in addition to clinical, therapeutic and epidemiological studies related to accidents with venomous animals;;
It keeps zoological scientific archives and carries out educational and cultural activities through its four museums: the Biological Museum, History Museum, Microbiology Museum and the Emílio Ribas Public Health Museum;
It trains students through internships of scientific initiation (PIBIC/CNPq), a health specialization program and graduate studies (master's and doctorate). It is responsible for the stricto sensu Graduate Program in Toxinology;
It also offers extension courses aimed at training professionals to become multipliers of information in public health and short-term improvement courses, covering topics such as venomous animals, insects of medical importance, antitoxins, antivenoms and vaccines intended for the public, students, teachers, military, firefighters, agriculturalists, among others.

Official documents

Decree no. 878-A, of February 23, 1901- Law providing for the Instituto Serumtherapico, predecessor of Instituto Butantan.

Decree no. 64,518, of October 10, 2019- Law providing for the reorganization of Instituto Butantan.