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Public release date: 16 October 2008
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Cuba Registers Cimavax EGF Vaccine for Lung Cancer
A Cuban vaccine for advanced lung cancer therapy was certified by the Center for State Control of Drugs, said doctor
Gisela Gonzalez, specialist of the Center of Molecular Immunology.
The vaccine named CimaVax-EGF passed several clinical tests and showed security and improvement in the quality of
life of patients bearing some variants of these tumors.
The research of this product (CimaVax EGF) began in 1992, at the National Institute of Oncology. It was later developed since 1994
by the Center of Molecular Immunology (CIM) in collaboration with the Center of Genetical Engineering and Biotechnology
The lung vaccine is composed by the Epidermal Growth Factor, linked to another protein that helps the immune system to
create the desired immune response against the EGF.
The body of those vaccinated produces antibodies that recognize and bind specifically to EGF, avoiding its binding to
the receptor and the beginning of cell proliferation. The effect is a decrease in tumor growth, depending upon each
patient´s response.
With this vaccine, seven clinical trials have been concluded, in Cuba, Canada and England. There are other 3 ongoing
clinical tests, 2 in Cuba and another in Malaysia.
In this clinical experience, more than 400 advanced lung cancer patients have received the Vaccine CimaVax EGF.
It has been demonstrated that CimaVax does not provoke severe collateral effects, it triggers an immune response, increasing
the life expectancy –four to six months- of part of the vaccinated lung patients together with an associated good quality of
life, explained Gonzalez in a press round.
Obtained from two recombining proteins, the CimaVax EGF product is the first one in its class in the world. It has been
registered in Canada, the United States, Japan, Australia and Brazil.
Doctor Elia Neninger, oncologist participating in the project, confirmed this is a therapeutic vaccine, that is, it does
not prevent cancer. It is a treatment that serves to “maintain or consolidate” the effects of chemotherapy and
radiotherapy on the cancerous tumor.
She highlighted the security of this product that lacks any collateral effects that endanger the lives of patients.
It also contributes to reduce the prevailing symptoms of the ailment (difficulty to breathe, lack of appetite and
weight loss).
Last June 12, the vaccine was certified by the Cuban Sanitary Register.
For her part, Tania Crombet, director of Clinical Research at CIM indicated that CimaVax-EGF could be potentially useful
in the treatment of tumors of head and neck, brain, stomach, breast, prostate, colorectal, ovary and bladder.
Further studies are required to determine its reach and effectiveness on other types of cancer, she added. The research
and production on the vaccine are carried out by the CIM and the Center of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology.
At present, there are over a million patients in the world who suffer advanced lung cancer. In Cuba, a total of 4,500
persons die each year from that pathology.
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