Cuba Launches Clinical Trial for Chikungunya Treatment Amidst Escalating Health Crisis
Havana, Cuba – Cuban health authorities will initiate a clinical study in the coming days to assess the effectiveness of the domestically-produced drug Juzvinza in treating patients experiencing lasting effects from chikungunya virus infection, the Ministry of Public Health (Minsap) announced on its official website.
The trial,part of Cuba’s national health innovation system,will be conducted across four hospitals in Havana and Matanzas provinces. Researchers aim to improve treatment for persistent joint inflammation following chikungunya infection.
Juzvinza, developed by the Center for genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), was initially promoted in 2020 as a therapeutic option for critically and gravely ill coronavirus patients, intended to control hyperinflammation, regulate immune response, and reduce mortality risk.
the declaration arrives as Cuba grapples with a severe health crisis fueled by a surge in mosquito-borne diseases, including dengue and chikungunya. Hospitals are reportedly overwhelmed, and a notable shortage of medicines is impacting patient care, prompting growing public complaints regarding access to treatment, deteriorating facilities, and concerns over fumigation campaign efficacy.
Dr. Ileana Morales Suárez,Director of Science and Technological Innovation at Minsap,stated that research efforts are focused on combating mosquito infestation rates,refining clinical treatments,and mitigating the consequences of the virus.
María Guadalupe Guzmán Tirado, Research Director at the Pedro Kourí Institute (IPK), attributed the rise in infections to low population immunity and the current high levels of virus circulation within the country.
Despite Minsap framing the research as a scientific advancement, reports indicate a healthcare system strained by limited resources and exhausted personnel, increasingly reliant on citizen-led initiatives for prevention and treatment.
