Russia shows interest in Cuban biotechnology

HAVANA, Cuba, Jan 26 (acn) The presentation "Cuba-Russia Business Opportunities in biotech sphere" is one of the issues that today focuses attention on the Cereals-Fodder-Veterinary International Fair, which takes place in Moscow, reports Prensa Latina.

Convened by the National Committee for Economic Cooperation with Latin American countries, the panel headquartered in All-Russia Exhibition Center includes speakers from Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico and representatives of Russian companies.

Attendees await the intervention of Rolando Zayas, Minister of the Cuban Embassy in Russia, and Dr. Carmen Acosta, Heberbiotec regional manager, especially to learn about the Cuban biotechnology product Heberprot-P.

This scientific result was included in the Eurasian nation since September 2015 in the List of Essential and Vital Drugs by the specialized commission of the Ministry of Health, and recently the head of the ministry stressed its effectiveness during a televised conversation with President Vladimir Putin.

Preparations accepted by the committee of experts will be subsequently ratified by the Prime Minister of Russia, under the laws of the country.

However, it is a fact that the drug, highly effective in combating amputations caused by diabetic foot ulcer (DFU), is already on the register, Commission sources said.

Elena Maxinka, chief of the Department of Drug Supply and co-chair of the Health Working Group of the Russia-Cuba Intergovernmental Commission for Collaboration, stressed the positive results of clinical trials of Heberprot-P.

The results in Belarus and Russia support the registration of this medicine and confirm that it is not a cosmetic preparation, but it effectively penetrates in the body of patients, she said during the debate broadcasted online.

From the economic point of view, members of the Commission emphasized that the price of this product in Russia is lower than in other European countries where it is already registered.

The inclusion of the product created by the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in Havana in this list enables the health authorities all around Russia can devote budgetary resources for its acquisition.

Heberprot-P applied in health centers of Russia will decrease four times the number of amputations in patients with DFU; in addition, some 200 000 Russian patients each year suffer this evil, and over 46,000 of them are subjected to amputations.

Medical sources say that Heberprot-P will help to reduce the rate of disability in Russia and will increase life expectancy in the population, two essential objectives in modernizing the health system of the Eurasian nation.
Within CIS, Heberprot -P was already registered in Ukraine (2011), Russia (February 2014) and Belarus (October 2014).