Cuba looks to begin trials of new neuroprotective treatment for Alzheimers
Published on 16/05/17 at 09:31 am
The health care system in Cuba is widely held up to be a model of innovation; despite severe economic sanctions for much of its recent history, it has kept up with ‘developed nations’ medical standards, as well as surpassing them in some areas. The WHO recognised this in a 2014 visit by its Director-General, Margaret Chan, who commented that “Cuba is the only country that has a health care system closely linked to research and development. This is the way to go”.
When Cuba announces a new innovation in medicine, it carries more significance than any other nation of relative size. Only last year, a vaccine for lung cancer that showed benefits in some patients and had been in use in the country since 2011 was allowed through to testing by the FDA while clinical trials for a vaccine for HIV was also begun this year.
This is relevant because Cuba’s Center for Molecular Immunology has announced that it will be putting through an Alzheimer’s treatment through clinical testing, subject to approval by the Center for Drug Control Equipment and Medical Devices.
The drug, NeuroEpo, has been developed in Cuba by its own researchers and has shown benefits in studies that show it can slow disease progression.
More:
http://www.pharmafile.com/news/514093/cuba-looks-begin-trials-new-neuroprotective-treatment-alzheimer-s
