Therapeutic Vaccine Against Hepatitis B Developed by Cuba Receives International Recognition
Havana, June 24 – The scientific magazine Vaccines has highlighted the significant impact of an article on Cuba’s therapeutic vaccine against hepatitis B, known as Nasvac, on the international stage. The publication recognized the article as one of the most viewed and downloaded texts, shedding light on the groundbreaking drug developed by scientists from the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB) for the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B.
What sets Nasvac apart is its novelty as the only vaccine against a chronic infectious disease and the only therapeutic preparation that is administered nasally. Clinical studies have shown that Nasvac can lower the amount of virus in the blood to less than 10,000 particles per milliliter in approximately 80 percent of subjects. Although patients continue to be infected with the virus, the low level of viral multiplication significantly reduces the risk of developing fibrosis and progressing to cirrhosis or liver cancer.
In addition to the nasal route, Nasvac can also be administered through the subcutaneous route. The CIGB emphasizes that chronic hepatitis B is a long-term condition, often going undetected until it is too late. The disease hampers the immune system’s ability to defend itself, which is why the vaccine utilizes the nasal route to break the tolerance and induce an immune response.
The incidence of hepatitis B in Cuba has significantly decreased, making it no longer a major health problem. According to the Ministry of Public Health, only 21 cases of chronic hepatitis B were diagnosed in 2021, compared to 73 cases the previous year. The CIGB played a crucial role in achieving these results by developing the Heberbiovac HB preventive vaccine in 1991. This breakthrough allowed for the complete eradication of the disease in children aged zero to five by the year 2000, and by 2005, it had been eliminated in infants and adolescents up to 15 years old.
The international recognition of Nasvac and its potential to revolutionize the treatment of chronic hepatitis B is a testament to Cuba’s commitment to scientific innovation and public health. With ongoing advancements in medical research, Cuba continues to make significant contributions to global healthcare.
What role did the CIGB play in the decrease of hepatitis B cases in Cuba, and how did their previous breakthrough vaccine contribute to the eradication of the disease in certain age groups
Havana, June 24 – The scientific magazine Vaccines has recognized Cuba’s groundbreaking therapeutic vaccine against hepatitis B, known as Nasvac, as one of the most viewed and downloaded articles worldwide. Developed by scientists from the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Nasvac has received international recognition for its significant impact on the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B.
What makes Nasvac unique is that it is the only vaccine available for a chronic infectious disease and the only therapeutic preparation that is administered through the nasal route. Clinical studies have shown that Nasvac can reduce the amount of virus in the blood to less than 10,000 particles per milliliter in about 80 percent of patients. While patients still remain infected, the low level of viral multiplication greatly reduces the risk of developing fibrosis, cirrhosis, or liver cancer.
Apart from the nasal route, Nasvac can also be administered subcutaneously. The CIGB emphasizes that chronic hepatitis B is often undetected until it is too late, as it hinders the immune system’s ability to defend itself. That’s why the vaccine utilizes the nasal route to break tolerance and stimulate an immune response.
The incidence of hepatitis B in Cuba has significantly decreased, making it no longer a major health issue. According to the Ministry of Public Health, only 21 cases of chronic hepatitis B were diagnosed in 2021, compared to 73 cases the previous year. The CIGB played a key role in achieving these results by developing the preventive vaccine Heberbiovac HB in 1991. This breakthrough led to the complete eradication of the disease in children aged zero to five by 2000, and by 2005, it had been eliminated in infants and adolescents up to 15 years old.
The international recognition of Nasvac and its potential to revolutionize the treatment of chronic hepatitis B demonstrates Cuba’s commitment to scientific innovation and public health. Through continuous advancements in medical research, Cuba continues to make significant contributions to global healthcare.
This groundbreaking development in Cuba’s medical research field holds great promise in advancing our fight against Hepatitis B. The introduction of the therapeutic vaccine Nasvac gives hope for the betterment of patients’ lives and showcases Cuba’s prowess in the scientific community.