Clinical Trial of Jusvinza for Chikungunya Launched

Cuban health authorities have initiated a clinical trial for the drug Jusvinza, developed by the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, to treat residual polyarthritis in patients recovering from chikungunya, as announced by the BioCubaFarma Group on its Facebook profile.

The Ministry of Public Health reported that the research was approved by the Health Innovation Committee and is being conducted across four hospitals in the provinces of Havana and Matanzas.

The primary objective is to evaluate the efficacy of the immunoregulatory synthetic peptide in reducing joint pain and inflammation, one of the most frequent and prolonged sequelae of the disease.

Jusvinza was initially conceived as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and, during the Covid-19 pandemic, was used in Cuba to control states of hyperinflammation in severe and critical patients, according to official data.

This current trial is the first of its kind in the country focused on the sequelae of Chikungunya. It is part of a broader national plan for the control of arboviruses, which includes epidemiological surveillance actions, updated clinical protocols, and control of the transmitting mosquito.

Specialists indicated that the research aims to provide scientific evidence on the drug's utility within a healthcare context where vector-borne diseases represent a significant public health challenge.