New joint venture created in Mariel to distribute biotechnology products
The Cuban enterprise Cimab S.A. and Neuronic Mexicana S.A. establish a new company named IncuBIO, with headquarters in the Mariel Special Development Zone

Author: National news staff | informacion@granma.cu
september 8, 2021 13:09:47

Photo: Granma Archives
A new joint venture for the development and commercialization of innovative biotechnology products has been established in the Mariel Special Development Zone, named IncuBIO S.A., according to an announcement made by the Cuba’s Cimab S.A. and Neuronic Mexicana S.A. de C.V.

Information on the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Investment (Mincex) website indicates that IncuBIO is designed to attract venture capital, and its shares may be acquired by future investors, looking to increase the value of products by financing clinical trials in markets of underdeveloped countries.

Among the innovative products for which development and commercialization rights are granted by the exclusive license from the new entity is NeuroEPO, one of the most promising assets in the portfolio of the Center for Molecular Immunology, since it is being tested as a treatment for several neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Ataxia.

The Mincex publication details that, with the incorporation of IncuBIO, Cimab – dedicated to the development and management of businesses through its direct participation in international alliances – is a shareholder in five joint ventures located in China, Thailand, Singapore and Cuba.

Neuronic Mexicana S.A. de C.V. will be responsible for the commercialization of biopharmaceutical products and medical equipment.

Cuba initiates WHO prequalification of its vaccines
False information reported on CNN, regarding Cuban vaccines and the World Health Organization, debunked by Dr. Eduardo Martínez Díaz, and WHO representative Dr. José Moya

Author: Laura Mercedes Giráldez | informacion@granmai.cu
september 8, 2021 13:09:50

Photo: Ricardo López Hevia
Cuba is the first country in Latin America and the Caribbean to develop its own vaccines to combat COVID-19, with five candidates, three already approved for emergency use by the national regulatory authority, and has now begun the process of prequalification of its immunogens before the World Health Organization (WHO).

The information was announced in a meeting held September 2 between BioCubaFarma’s president, Dr. Eduardo Martínez Díaz, and the PAHO/WHO representative in Cuba, Dr. José Moya, who described the meeting as cordial, welcoming the interest expressed by our country to begin the prequalification of its vaccines, and noted that international media reports citing an alleged WHO disqualification of Cuban drugs are based on the manipulation of statements made by one of the organization’s officials.

A recent CNN report alleged that the Cuban government did not receive an emergency use license for its vaccine against COVID-19 from the WHO and, therefore, it cannot be purchased through the PAHO Revolving Fund.

BioCubaFarma, responded on its Twitter account, stating, “Once again information is manipulated to affect Cuba and its image.

“This is false information, our vaccine has already been authorized for emergency use by Cecmed, a regulatory authority of reference in the region and recognized by the WHO itself,” the post continued.

“The process for its recognition by the WHO has not yet begun, so it is impossible that an evaluation has been issued. Considering the respect which WHO/PAHO deserves, its history of cooperation with Cuba and the many lives that Abdala can save, let the truth be told,” BioCubaFarma insisted.

Abdala, with three doses, demonstrates 92.28% efficacy
Communist Party First Secretary and President of the Republic Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, on behalf of Cuba, congratulates researchers who in 13 months achieved a global milestone

Leticia Martínezjune 22, 2021 08:06:44

Photo: Estudio Revolución
A three-dose regimen of the Abdala candidate vaccine has demonstrated an efficacy of 92.28 percent, placing it well above the World Health Organization (WHO) requirement of at least 50 percent, to be recognized as an anti-COVID-19 vaccine.
Over the course of 48 hours, from Saturday to Monday, Cuba, a small, poor country, has shaken the world, noted Party First Secretary and President of the Republic Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, in a meeting, yesterday afternoon, with researchers at the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), where Abdala was developed.

Photo: Estudio Revolución
The President decided to meet with the scientists after learning about the efficacy analysis of Abdala at Monday’s meeting of the government’s COVID-19 prevention and control group.
He had visited the Finlay Vaccine Institute on Saturday, after learning that its Soberana 02 candidate vaccine, with just two doses, had demonstrated 62% efficacy – without a third booster dose of Soberana Plus, which should produce an superior response.
Abdala’s efficacy places it among vaccines with the best results in the world, which have all been produced in the principal laboratories of the most developed countries with financing of hundreds of millions and billions of dollars, something that for Cuba is impossible, even more so given the tightening of the economic, commercial and financial blockade during the pandemic.
Dr. Marta Ayala Avila, CIGB director, explained that efficacy is the most important objective of any vaccine. “It is its effect in real life,” she stated.

Abdala, con tres dosis, tiene una eficacia de 92,28 % (+Video)
El Primer Secretario del Partido Comunista de Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, acudió al CIGB en la tarde de este lunes para felicitar, en nombre de Cuba, a los investigadores que en 13 meses lograron un hito mundial. «Y vamos por más», sentenció el Presidente de la República

Leticia Martínez Hernández21 de junio de 2021 21:06:01

«En nombre de Cuba, felicitaciones», dijo Díaz-Canel a los investigadores del CIGB que trabajaron en la creación de Abdala, que ya es vacuna anti-COVID-19.
«En nombre de Cuba, felicitaciones», dijo Díaz-Canel a los investigadores del CIGB que trabajaron en la creación de Abdala, que ya es vacuna anti-COVID-19. Foto: Estudios Revolución
Después de aplicarse la formulación de tres dosis, el candidato vacunal Abdala tiene una eficacia de 92,28 por ciento, lo que lo sitúa muy por encima de la exigencia de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) para declarar como tal a una vacuna anti COVID-19, que debe tener para ello al menos un 50 por ciento de eficacia.

De la tarde del sábado a la de este lunes, han transcurrido 48 horas en las que Cuba, un país pobre y pequeño, ha estremecido al mundo, como señaló el Primer Secretario del Partido Comunista de Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, en un encuentro con las investigadoras e investigadores del Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología (CIGB).

Foto: Estudios Revolución
El Presidente de la República decidió encontrarse con los científicos tras informarse del análisis final de eficacia de Abdala en la reunión de lunes del Grupo temporal de trabajo del Gobierno para la prevención y control de la COVID-19.

Así lo hizo también el sábado, cuando fue a saludar a los investigadores del Instituto Finlay de Vacunas tras conocer que el candidato vacunal Soberana 02, con sus dos dosis, tiene una eficacia del 62 por ciento, un resultado que aún no contiene la aplicación de la tercera dosis de refuerzo de Soberana Plus, que debe situarla también entre las vacunas más eficaces para controlar el virus SARS-CoV-2.

La eficacia de Abdala la ubica entre las vacunas con mejores resultados del mundo, esas que se han producido en los principales laboratorios de los países más desarrollados a partir de financiamientos de cientos de millones y miles de millones de dólares, algo que para Cuba es una quimera, más aún en medio de la agudización del bloqueo económico, comercial y financiero durante todo lo que va de pandemia.

La doctora en ciencias Marta Ayala Ávila, directora general del CIGB, explicó que la eficacia es el resultado más importante de una vacuna. «Es su efecto en la vida real», afirmó.