{"id":1447,"date":"2020-04-20T07:43:37","date_gmt":"2020-04-20T07:43:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/?p=1447"},"modified":"2020-05-05T23:13:42","modified_gmt":"2020-05-05T23:13:42","slug":"cuban-biotech-to-the-rescue-the-story-of-a-potential-anti-covid-19-drug-told-by-one-of-its-creators","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/cuban-biotech-to-the-rescue-the-story-of-a-potential-anti-covid-19-drug-told-by-one-of-its-creators\/","title":{"rendered":"Cuban Biotech to the Rescue: The Story of a Potential Anti-COVID-19 Drug Told By One of Its Creators"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Scientists-work-at-a-lab-at-the-Genetic-Engineering-and-Biotechnology-Centre-in-Havana.jpg?resize=640%2C420&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1450\" width=\"640\" height=\"420\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Scientists-work-at-a-lab-at-the-Genetic-Engineering-and-Biotechnology-Centre-in-Havana.jpg?w=640&amp;ssl=1 640w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Scientists-work-at-a-lab-at-the-Genetic-Engineering-and-Biotechnology-Centre-in-Havana.jpg?resize=300%2C197&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Cuban biotech industry has offered its own tool to fight the coronavirus disease. Dr. Manuel Limonta, one of the founding fathers of Cuba&#8217;s biotechnology initiative, has explained how the island nation has mastered itself in producing interferon, a drug chosen by a number of countries to treat COVID-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Amid the media buzz about hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria drug lauded by Donald Trump as a potential cure against COVID-19, recombinant interferon remains neglected despite being one of medicines which have proven effective in curbing China&#8217;s coronavirus epidemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Interferons (IFN) are the group of signalling proteins produced by cells to trigger defences of a human immune system in the event of viral attacks. Discovered in 1957 they were named for their ability to &#8220;interfere&#8221; with the infection process by protecting cells from pathogens. Since then, biotechnologists found the way to artificially produce the substance it has been used as a part of complex treatment against such severe illnesses as HIV, cancer, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, pneumococcal invasive diseases, and considered instrumental against&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3322919\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SARS-Cov<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3929173\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">MERS-Cov<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The specific drug that came in handy during China&#8217;s fight with COVID-19 was recombinant Interferon Alpha 2b, developed by Cuba&#8217;s Centres for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB) and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/sputniknews.com\/analysis\/202003281078730283-covid-19-why-us-influence-in-latin-america-fading-while-china--russia-winning-soft-power-battle\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">manufactured by a joint Chinese-Cuban enterprise<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Changheber?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Changheber<\/a> Sino-Cuban plant in <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Jilin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Jilin<\/a> produces since the 1st day of <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/LunarNewYear?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#LunarNewYear<\/a> Interferon alpha (IFNrec) antiviral with the use of Cuban technology. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/China?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#China<\/a> Nat. Health Commission has selected our product among those used in the fight vs <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/coronavirus?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#coronavirus<\/a>. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BioCubaFarma?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@BioCubaFarma<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CIGBCuba?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@CIGBCuba<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/BTlsUCbCNr\">pic.twitter.com\/BTlsUCbCNr<\/a><\/p>&mdash; EmbaCuba China (@EmbacubaChina) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/EmbacubaChina\/status\/1225073952730558465?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 5, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u200bDr. Manuel Limonta, one of the founders of the Centres for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB) and vice president of the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), took a walk down the memory lane describing how the Caribbean nation had started producing the wonder-drug.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fateful Meeting: US Oncologist Clark and Fidel Castro Ruz<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/fidels-legacy-whats-behind-the-proficiency-of-cubas-medical-teams-fighting-covid-19-abroad\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cuba&#8217;s disaster healthcare professionals<\/a>\u00a0have recently come to the front in the struggle against the coronavirus pandemic, few know about the country&#8217;s advanced biotechnological and pharmaceutical industry and research institutions. According to Dr. Limonta, it all started in the aftermath of the Cuban Revolution of 1953-1959, in the wake of Fidel Castro&#8217;s\u00a0 26th of July Movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>&#8220;Fidel was interested in the constant development of capacities for the medical care of the Cuban population with the creation of hospitals and scientific institutions to support this development&#8221;, recollects Dr. Limonta. &#8220;Cuba helped other countries and also received help from the extensive exchange that has always been Cuba&#8217;s policy in medical care and scientific development for health that has been practiced worldwide&#8221;.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to the professor, recombinant interferon Alpha 2b, a Cuban-manufactured coronavirus treatment, has antecedents which the nation got access to in 1980 due to international collaboration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;In December 1980 the director of the MD Anderson Hospital, Professor Randolph Lee Clark visited Cuba with a group of North American doctors and in an interview with Fidel expressed his hopes that interferon could be a good medicine to fight cancer and viral diseases and that it was also used in different researches at his hospital in Houston,&#8221; Dr. Limonta says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During this interview, Clark invited Cuban researchers to visit his centre in order to learn about the use of the new drug. Fidel took a great interest in this product and two Cuban doctors were selected to visit Clark&#8217;s laboratory. One of them was Manuel Limonta and the other one Victoria Ram\u00edrez.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fidel Gives Green Light to Research Mission<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;The Cubans learned that [the human alpha] interferon was produced in Finland from white blood cells (WBC) and that this country was the only one that had achieved sufficient production [of the substance] for clinical applications as it was done at Anderson Hospital&#8221;, the scientist recollects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By that time the Comandante had set his mind to the production of interferon in Cuba, and therefore he decided to send researchers to Finland to learn how to synthesise the substance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dr Kari Cantell, director of the Finnish interferon project, agreed to show the production method and then a Limonta-led group of Cuban researchers, including Victoria Ram\u00edrez, Eduardo Penton, Pedro L\u00f3pez Saura, Angela Aguilera, and Silvio Barcelona headed off to Finland for training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>&#8220;There we learned about the production process, and in a very short time all the conditions in Cuba were created by adapting a house as a laboratory to produce leukocyte interferon (IFN-alpha)&#8221;, the scientist says. &#8220;Fidel had a fervour and enthusiasm to support everything that was related to the possibility of making interferon in Cuba. This enthusiasm rubbed off on the researchers, and in a record time the production of an interferon of Cantell-like quality was started&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/lab_tech_Cuba.jpg?fit=747%2C472&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"A lab technician works at the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in Camaguey, Cuba on June 19, 2015\" class=\"wp-image-1449\" width=\"560\" height=\"354\" title=\"A lab technician works at the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in Camaguey, Cuba on June 19, 2015\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/lab_tech_Cuba.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/lab_tech_Cuba.jpg?resize=300%2C190&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/lab_tech_Cuba.jpg?resize=1024%2C647&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/lab_tech_Cuba.jpg?resize=768%2C485&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cuba Launches Production in Record Time<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Fidel used to visit the house transformed as a lab very often&#8221;, Dr. Limonta recollects. &#8220;From the date our group came back from Finland in the month of March up to 28 May, when we placed in his hands the&nbsp; final Interferon produced, he visited the small laboratory more than 40 times to check the evolution of the work. He used to bring a small notebook and make notes of different questions from him to the group&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On 28 May 1981 the new substance was delivered to Fidel Castro, and pre-clinical and clinical tests for the use of the alpha interferon began almost immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;A few days later, Fidel made the decision to build a brand new institution with two missions:&nbsp;<strong>first<\/strong>, to increase the capacity of leukocyte interferon production and,&nbsp;<strong>second<\/strong>, to start working on the research, development and production of recombinant products mainly the recombinant Alpha 2b Interferon&#8221;, he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The best medicine is not that which cures but that which prevents. Cuba went for preventative medicine, without neglecting healing medicine. Fidel left us that legacy thanks to which we can face this pandemic and make our modest contribution to the global fight.<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/CubaSalvaVidas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#CubaSalvaVidas<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/DDAdXCwtFL\">pic.twitter.com\/DDAdXCwtFL<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Miguel D\u00edaz-Canel Berm\u00fadez (@DiazCanelB) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DiazCanelB\/status\/1250085878011236352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 14, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u200bAccording to the academic, at that time our group of six people grew up to more than 20 as it was joined by technicians and other personnel. The building of the new institution was inaugurated by Kari Cantell and Fidel Castro as the Centre For Biological Research (CIB) on 20 of January 1982. Manuel Limonta was appointed as the director general of the CIB.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Limonta emphasises that his group became the second interferon maker after Kari Cantell&#8217;s laboratory that received recognition for both high quality and volume produced. &#8220;The leykocyte interferon is recognised as the first product of Cuban biotechnology, as it was produced under the concept of a &#8216;close circle&#8217; of research, development, production, and application in a very short period of time&#8221;, the professor explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>&#8220;In 1981 Cuba suffered an epidemic of dengue haemorrhagic fever and subsequently haemorrhagic conjunctivitis,&#8221; he notes. &#8220;Interferon was applied as one of the main therapeutic elements for both viral diseases. This leukocyte interferon was applied in Cuba from 1981 in different research protocols of different viral diseases and received support in national and international scientific publications.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The scientist points out that since 1986 the Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology has mastered a new, more cost effective method of production of the alpha interferon, based on genetic engineering technology. The new recombinant human Interferon, Alpha 2b, became known under its trademark Heberon\u00ae Alfa R.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"es\" dir=\"ltr\">En <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/Cuba?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Cuba<\/a> producci\u00f3n del medicamento Interfer\u00f3n Alfa 2b recombinante en el centro de Ingenier\u00eda Gen\u00e9tica y Biotecnolog\u00eda. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/CubaSalvaVidas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#CubaSalvaVidas<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/PEMSdS4SLv\">pic.twitter.com\/PEMSdS4SLv<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Joven Club Espirituano (@JovenClubSSP) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JovenClubSSP\/status\/1246592898071756802?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 5, 2020<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u200b<em>Production of the recombinant drug Interferon Alpha 2b at the Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in Cuba.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The development of the Cuban biotechnological sector occurred under the US-driven blockade, and when matters worsened after the collapse of the USSR in 1991. The Caribbean nation struggled to obtain advanced technologies and good-quality raw materials and reagents, buying them at much higher prices. Nevertheless, the industry continued to thrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition to natural and recombinant interferon, Cuba&#8217;s Centres for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB)&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/phi\/publications\/Cuba_case_study121115.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">developed<\/a>, in particular, the recombinant vaccine against hepatitis B, the meningitis B vaccine, as well as a number of recombinant biopharmaceuticals to provide care for the country&#8217;s population. The entity got several important patents, pioneered technology transfer for some of its products and kicked off joint production with companies across the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In mid-March 2020, the Cuban pharmaceutical industry signalled that it\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\/\/en.granma.cu\/cuba\/2020-03-17\/biocubafarma-guarantees-production-of-22-medications-for-the-treatment-of-covid-19\" target=\"_blank\">guarantees<\/a>\u00a0the production of two dozen medicines used in treating COVID-19 including, most notably, Interferon Alpha 2b. According to teleSur, over 45 countries have\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.telesurenglish.net\/news\/more-than-40-nations-ask-cuba-for-interferon-alpha-b-20200327-0004.html\" target=\"_blank\">requested<\/a>\u00a0interferon from Cuba. CIGB Director-General Eulogio Pimentel Vazquez asserted the media outlet that the product which they have in inventory &#8220;would be equivalent, practically, to the amount necessary to treat the total of all the infected that occurred in China&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">source: <a href=\"https:\/\/sputniknews.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sputniknews<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Cuban biotech industry has offered its own tool to fight the coronavirus disease. Dr. Manuel Limonta, one of the founding fathers of Cuba&#8217;s biotechnology<a class=\"moretag\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/cuban-biotech-to-the-rescue-the-story-of-a-potential-anti-covid-19-drug-told-by-one-of-its-creators\/\"> [&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":101012,"featured_media":1450,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[36],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1447","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-covid-19"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1009,"url":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/cuba-biotech-industry-has-enough-antivirals-to-treat-covid-19\/","url_meta":{"origin":1447,"position":0},"title":"Cuba biotech industry has enough antivirals to treat COVID-19","author":"Editorial Team","date":"March 15, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Cuba said on Friday it has enough reserves of an antiviral drug which has been used to treat COVID-19 in China to cover the island\u2019s demand and also that of other countries. Eduardo Martinez, president of the state group BioCubaFarma said: \u201cWe are receiving requests from a large group of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Covid-19&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Covid-19","link":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/category\/cuba\/covid-19\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cuba-COVID-19-interferon.jpg?fit=829%2C420&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cuba-COVID-19-interferon.jpg?fit=829%2C420&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cuba-COVID-19-interferon.jpg?fit=829%2C420&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cuba-COVID-19-interferon.jpg?fit=829%2C420&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":975,"url":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/chinese-doctors-are-using-cuban-antivirals-against-coronavirus\/","url_meta":{"origin":1447,"position":1},"title":"Chinese Doctors Are Using Cuban Antivirals Against Coronavirus","author":"Editorial Team","date":"February 15, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Interferon alfa 2B (IFNrec) : The Cuban medicine used in China against coronavirus. The\u00a0Recombinant Interferon\u00a0Alpha 2B (IFNrec), an antiviral produced\u00a0by the Cuban\u00a0biotech industry, is being used by Chinese doctors to treat patients\u00a0infected by the\u00a02019-nCoV coronavirus, which has affected more than 28,000 people and has killed 564 patients\u00a0worldwide. Since Jan. 25,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Covid-19&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Covid-19","link":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/category\/cuba\/covid-19\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Vaccine_CoronaVirus.jpg?fit=1112%2C731&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Vaccine_CoronaVirus.jpg?fit=1112%2C731&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Vaccine_CoronaVirus.jpg?fit=1112%2C731&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Vaccine_CoronaVirus.jpg?fit=1112%2C731&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Vaccine_CoronaVirus.jpg?fit=1112%2C731&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1937,"url":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/the-cuban-option-against-covid-19\/","url_meta":{"origin":1447,"position":2},"title":"The Cuban option against Covid-19","author":"Editorial Team","date":"May 28, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Biotechnology in Cuba has developed drugs that have already been effective in fighting the coronavirus in China and other countries. Cuban doctors with a patient at Crema field hospital, south of Milan, on May 15 (MIGUEL MEDINA \/ AFP) \"We have a joke in Cuba that if we discovered the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Covid-19&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Covid-19","link":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/category\/cuba\/covid-19\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cuban-Doctros-Hospital-Crema-Web.jpg?fit=975%2C547&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cuban-Doctros-Hospital-Crema-Web.jpg?fit=975%2C547&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cuban-Doctros-Hospital-Crema-Web.jpg?fit=975%2C547&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cuban-Doctros-Hospital-Crema-Web.jpg?fit=975%2C547&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1013,"url":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/cubas-contribution-to-combating-covid-19\/","url_meta":{"origin":1447,"position":3},"title":"Cuba\u2019s Contribution to Combating COVID-19","author":"Editorial Team","date":"March 15, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Helen Yaffe\u2014 COVID-19 surged in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late December 2019, and by January 2020 it had hit Hubei province like a tidal wave, swirling over China and rippling out overseas. The Chinese state rolled into action to combat the spread and to care for those infected.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Covid-19&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Covid-19","link":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/category\/cuba\/covid-19\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/virus.jpg?fit=1200%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/virus.jpg?fit=1200%2C576&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/virus.jpg?fit=1200%2C576&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/virus.jpg?fit=1200%2C576&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/virus.jpg?fit=1200%2C576&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1040,"url":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/the-history-of-interferon-in-cuba-in-use-today-to-treat-covid-19\/","url_meta":{"origin":1447,"position":4},"title":"The history of interferon in Cuba, in use today to treat Covid-19","author":"Editorial Team","date":"March 24, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"The interferon project began in 1981, after Fidel met U.S. doctor Randolph Lee Clark. Photo: Granma Archives Cuba\u2019s pride in Interferon Alfa 2b is a natural reaction given the international prestige enjoyed by the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology which produces the medication Recombinant Human Interferon Alpha 2b continues\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Covid-19&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Covid-19","link":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/category\/cuba\/covid-19\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Interferon_History.jpg?fit=512%2C346&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1329,"url":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/cuban-medical-science-in-the-service-of-humanity\/","url_meta":{"origin":1447,"position":5},"title":"Cuban Medical Science in the Service of Humanity","author":"Editorial Team","date":"April 10, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"By Helen Haffe Originally\u00a0 published in Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! No 275, March\/April 2020 In late January 2020, the Chinese National Health Commission selected a Cuban anti-viral drug, Interferon Alfa 2b, among the treatments it would use for Covid-19 patients. This drug has been produced in Cuba by the Centre\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Featured&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/category\/news\/featured\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/cuban_doctor-new.jpg?fit=550%2C333&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/cuban_doctor-new.jpg?fit=550%2C333&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/cuban_doctor-new.jpg?fit=550%2C333&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3xdTY-nl","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/Scientists-work-at-a-lab-at-the-Genetic-Engineering-and-Biotechnology-Centre-in-Havana.jpg?fit=640%2C420&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1447","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/101012"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1447"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1447\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1450"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1447"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1447"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cubasupport.ie\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1447"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}