Ahmadinejad: Iran to Soon Become Reference for World Science [FARS News Agency]

"Given Iran's current pace of progress in scientific fields, the country will be introduced to the world as a science reference in future," Ahmadinejad said, addressing students at the beginning of Iran's new academic year.

During the last decade Iran has made huge achievements in various fields of science and technology, from nuclear knowledge to stem cell and Nano technology.

Iranian Health Minister Marziyeh Vahid Dastjerdi announced in August that the country would soon start production of 15 types of anti-cancer drugs.

"15 types of monoclonal anti-body drugs are being synthesized with the help of the Scientific Department of the Presidential Office, using hi-tech technology," Vahid Dastjerdi said.

Noting that these anti-cancer drugs are now produced by only two to three western companies, she raised the possibility that the Iran-made monoclonal antibodies would be introduced to the Iranian market within the next two months.

Monoclonal antibody drugs are a relatively new innovation in cancer treatment. While several monoclonal antibody drugs are available for treating certain cancers, the best way to use these new drugs isn't always clear.

Also earlier this year, Iranian scientists succeeded in producing new types of medication for treating different kinds of cancer, viral diseases and arthritis with 100% positive results.

"The medicine has been synthesized through a new and unique formula and has the capability to destroy all malignant cancerous cells," Head of the research team Qassem Tak Dehqan told reporters in April.

In January, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) announced that Iranian scientists have managed to synthesize two new types of radiomedicines to treat malignant types of cancer.

Also, Iran in December unveiled five different radiomedicine projects with applications for diagnosis, prevention and treatment of a number of diseases.

In September 2010, Iran announced that it plans to synthesize 20 kinds of radiomedicine inside the country.

"Iran has gained the necessary preparedness to produce 20 radiomedicines and we will provide the 20% (enriched nuclear) fuel needed for the production of these medicines this year," AEOI Deputy Head for Planning, International and Parliamentary Affairs Massoud Akhavan-Fard told FNA at the time.

In addition to the Tehran research reactor which has long been used by radioisotope production, Iran also plans to build four other research reactors in the other parts of the country, he added.

Also in April, Iranian Deputy Minister of Science, Research and Technology Hossein Naderimanesh praised the country's scientists and researchers for their astonishing progress in different scientific fields.

Iran ranked first last year in the world in producing articles about international scientific issues, Naderimanesh said at the time.

He reiterated that the Iranian scientists have succeeded to make 11-percent boost in publishing scientific articles in the past Iranian year (ended on March 20, 2011).

The official said that more than 17,000 articles have been written by the Iranian scientists in different scientific issues during the period.