The Cuban antiviral Interferon alpha 2B recombinant (IFNrec) is among the medicines chosen by China to treat the new coronavirus, which has already caused at least 908 deaths in that country and for which there is no specific vaccine yet.
The drug, produced at the Chinese-Cuban plant ChangHeber in the Chinese province of Jilin, is one of the star products of the biotechnology of the Caribbean island and is also used against viral infections caused by HIV, human papillomavirus and hepatitis types B and C.
In addition, its effectiveness in therapies against various types of cancer has been proven.
“Cuba ratifies its solidarity with the people and Government of China and recognizes commendable efforts they make against the coronavirus 2019-nCoV. Thanks to the bilateral biotechnological cooperation, Cuban anti-viral Interferon alpha 2B recombinant is one of the medicines used to face epidemic,” wrote this Monday on Twitter, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez.
The mixed factory produces the antiviral at full capacity since late January, when the National Health Commission selected IFNrec among the nearly 30 drugs prioritized to treat the virus, the Cuban ambassador in China, Carlos Miguel Pereira, reported on the same social network.
China, the United States and Spain are among the countries that work on a vaccine against the new coronavirus, called 2019-nCoV.
In the absence of a specific drug, China treats patients with a combination of antiviral, western and traditional medicines from that country.
The supply of masks or protective clothing remains deficient, especially in the province of Hubei, where the city of Wuhan is located, the epicenter of the epidemic.
The Chinese Executive pressures manufacturers to increase production, and has promised them not only financial aid, but also in terms of licenses, raw materials or facilities.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has convened scientists from around the world specialized in coronavirus to a meeting on February 11 and 12 in Geneva, with the aim of accelerating the development of diagnostic tests, vaccines and medicines against this disease.
Currently 28 countries have confirmed 2019-nCoV cases. To date, all but two deaths – one in the Philippines and one in Hong Kong – have occurred in mainland China, which covers about 99% of those infected.
Cuba keeps several people in hospital isolation but has not yet diagnosed any cases of coronavirus, say the island health authorities, who have adopted sanitary control measures at the borders and surveillance of incoming travelers.
–
