Cuba makes breakthrough with lung cancer vaccines

The Cuban Centre for Molecular Immunology (CIM) can announce success with a vaccine for lung cancer called VAXIRA.

VAXIRA helps to develop people’s immune system, giving them a better chance to combat cancer cells.

Studies have shown that over a 10-year period, lung cancer victims survived a median of 76 months, with 20 per cent of those administered VAXIRA experiencing long -term survival. VAXIRA is able to slow the growth of tumours . It has been used on patients throughout the world.

Cuba has carved out a reputation for outstanding medical care and continues to produce first-rate healthcare professionals.

Many Caribbean countries are grateful for the contributions made by Cuban medical specialists despite calls made for them to return to Cuba.

Cuba has faced many deprivations and is now under an intense blockade but still makes headway with medical advancements.

The COVID pandemic shuttered the world at the turn of the new decade which saw a dash to produce viable vaccines. Cuba came up with five, notably: Soberana 01, Soberana 02, Soberana Plus, Mabisa and Ablada. These were formed in record time and as a result Cuba had one of the lowest COVID deaths in the Western Hemisphere. In fact, Cuba had the third highest rate of vaccinations per 100,000 persons.

VAXIRA was awarded for its effectiveness against advanced lung cancer. Winning the Technological Innovation Prize in Cuba . It is a safe and easy to administer drug.

The United States’ Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, through a historic partnership with Cuba’s Cento de Immunologia Molecular is helping to develop several innovative and potential life-saving cancer therapies.

The first of these new approaches to be available to U.S. patients is CIMAvax–EGF, an immunotherapy for lung cancer.

Cuba has been at the forefront of developing therapeutic vaccines for lung cancer. Therapeutic vaccines for lung cancers are designed to treat pre-existing cancer by stimulating the body’s immune system to target and attack cancerous cells. Therapeutic vaccines are administered after cancer has been diagnosed as opposed to preventative vaccines which are meant to prevent disease.

Two prominent vaccines  developed in Cuba are CIMAvax-EGF and VAXIRA (Racotumomab). Both are used as a maintenance therapy for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)  who have completed initial rounds of onco-specific treatment. It is administered as a series of injections to stimulate the immune system.

They are offered to both Cuban citizens and international patients.