Mesothelioma News: Cuba’s Lung Cancer Vaccine (CimaVax) Headed for the U.S.
Posted on Monday, October 31st, 2016 at 2:01 pm
Mesothelioma News: Cuba’s Lung Cancer Vaccine Headed for the U. S
The Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, New York will soon start clinical trials on a vaccine called CimaVax. This is a long awaited for vaccine developed in Cuba’s Center for Molecular Immunology. This vaccine will now be in the U. S as a result of the easing of a fifty four year (54yr) old Cuba embargo. The vaccine has received positive reviews internationally. It has been tested for more than two (2) decades on five thousand (5000) people. Of these five thousand (5000) people, one thousand (1000) are Cubans. The vaccine has been used regularly since 2011.
The vaccine works and is inexpensive making it a good option for the U. S. Patients with other cancers stand to benefit from the vaccine. Examples of such cancer patients are those with:
- Pancreatic cancer
- Breast cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Colon cancer
- Head and neck cancer
While the drug does not cure mesothelioma and is not directly made for mesothelioma cancer, recently developed immunotherapy drugs for lung cancer have shown a positive response on mesothelioma.
Results of the CimaVax
The vaccine is said to provide the following benefits and results:
- A mean overall survival of patients under sixty years (60yrs) of age was 18.53 months; while patients who did not receive the CimaVax survived for 7.55 months.
- CimaVax improved the quality of life of patients and reduced symptoms such as breathlessness and coughing.
How it works
The vaccine targets proteins that allow the cancer tumors to grow and survive; the vaccine thus starves the tumors. Therefore, slowing their growth and extends the patient’s life. It is not a cure. If used on children the vaccine prevents the development of lung cancer.
The vaccine is used by an injection to the shoulder once a month. It is said to have minimal side effects. Clinical trials are expected to start within six (6) months after the vaccine is Federal and Drug Administration (FDA) approved.