Cuban health authorities introduced the first vaccine to treat advanced lung cancer in all of the country's clinics, a health official said here Thursday.
Pedro Pablo Guerra, researcher from the National Coordination Center for Clinical Trials, confirmed that the vaccine, known as CIMAVAX EGF, is for people with advanced lung cancer.
"To bring important drugs to patients who need them is one of the main objectives for the Cuban Ministry of Public Health," he said.
This immunogenic drug, developed by the Molecular Immunology Center (CMI), is in phase four of clinical trials. It has proven effective and improves the quality of life of patients with lung cancer, the expert said.
He said this is the only vaccine registered in the world to treat advanced lung cancer.
Guerra said the vaccine is undergoing another phase of clinical trials at hospitals. This research will bring about the definitive registration of the product, which is already recognized in several countries.
The vaccine CIMAVAX EGF was presented at the Fourth International Congress of Pharmacology, which ends Thursday in Havana. Over 450 experts from Brazil, Indonesia, Spain, the United States, Japan, Cuba and other countries participated.
VietNamNet/Xinhuanet
