Cuban drug Nimotuzumab, a hope against cancer

Created by researchers from the Center for Molecular Immunology (CIM), the drug Nimotuzumab has become one of the leading products of Cuban biotechnology for the treatment of cancer.

It obtained the sanitary registration granted by the Center for State Control of Medicines, Equipment and Medical Devices on February 19, 2002, for its use in the therapy of advanced head and neck tumors in adults.

Doctor of Medical Sciences Tania Crombet Ramos, director of Clinical Research at the CIM, explained to the press that the drug prevents the uncontrolled proliferation of malignant cells leading to the spread of cancer, and activates the immune system. It is usually used in combination with irradiation and chemotherapy.

According to Dr. Crombet, a result recently presented at the Annual Congress of the American Society of Clinical Oncology showed that survival in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer, treated with chemo-radiotherapy together with Nimotuzumab, was 44.28 months compared to 33.36 months for the group of those who were treated only by chemo-radiotherapy.

Included in the Basic List of Medicines since 2010, Nimotuzumab is part of the portfolio of anti-cancer products. It also received new medical records in China last February, for its use in pancreatic, head and neck carcinomas.

Furthermore, nations such as Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Canada, India, Brazil and Germany have recently conducted clinical research with the Cuban drug in different cancer locations.