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Cuban Genetics and Biotechnology
Turns 20
The Genetic Engineering and
Biotechnology Center celebrates
20 years as a prestigious Cuban
research institution in human,
animal and plant health.
Developing interferon on May 28,
1981 was the seed of the CIGB
five years later, marking
domestic sciences' maturity
boosted by the Revolution since
1959 under President Fidel
Castro's leadership.
The state has invested in this
emporium of 52 institutions one
billion dollars and two billion
Cuban pesos in infrastructure
and high-tech.
CIGB boasts 18 products:
monoclonal antibodies, a
vaccines for hepatitis B,
recombinant streptokinase
(cardiac arrest), cancer
vaccines, epidemic growth factor
and Citoprot-P (for diabetic
foot).
The long list includes a vaccine
for Haemophilus Influenzae,
transfer factor, the tetravalent
and pentavalent vaccine
(tetanus, whooping cough,
diphtheria, Cholera and
malaria).
It as also transferred
technology to countries like
China, India, South Africa and
Vietnam and has donated vaccines
to Brazil, Argentina, Colombia
and Uruguay.
Cuba was the first developing
country to match over 100
developed countries through a
vaccine for hepatitis B from
recombinant monoclonal antibody
from genetically modified
plants.
Its Director, Doctor Luis
Herrera, said the center is
still far meeting its goals but
its success make the Cuban
people proud.
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