Some news from Cuba: biotechnology and medicines

Radio Angulo from Cuba reports that the Habana is holding this week - November 28 to December 3, at the Havana’s Center of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (CIGB), the International Conference on Biotechnology where main topics such as aquatic biotechnology, bio-safety of bio-products and genetically modified organisms, the production of pharmaceuticals, and clinical trials of veterinary products will be discussed. Specialists from around the globe such as Germany, Japan, China, Belgium, Holland, the United Kingdom, Qatar, Brazil, Mexico, the United States, Venezuela and Colombia will be attending this event.

In the same source I found out that a therapeutic vaccine against advanced lung cancer created by scientists at Cuba's Molecular Immunology Center, will be tested in Great Britain in the coming weeks. The drug is said to have been developed after 15 years of research and successful administration to Cuban patients. The product is already registered in Peru and is in the process of registration in Colombia, Brazil, Paraguay, Ecuador, Argentina and other Latin American countries. It will also be registered in Australia, Thailand and Malaysia [what about Great Britain where the clinical trials will be? – that is a thought].

Also from the Pharma Letter I was made aware that Cuba and China have agreed to strengthen cooperation on biotechnology – this is also reported in the newspaper Global times from China. Zhang Xiaoqiang, vice chairman of China's National Commission for Development and Reform, attended the two-day meeting last week. It is reported that “Zhang praised the development of biotechnological cooperation between China and Cuba in the last two years, and suggested the introduction of research achievements to other countries to improve human health.” This agreement reinforces last September union, where the two ‘Cs’ – China and Cuba, signed an agreement on joint development of a preventive vaccine against whooping cough.