Cuba's achievements in the field of innovation praised

Havana, March 28 (RHC)-- The Director-General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Daren Tang, praised Cuba's achievements in innovation, which saved many lives inside and outside the Caribbean island nation.

Speaking at the ceremony on Monday for the awarding of the Gold Medal for Inventors conferred by the organization he heads, Tang highlighted the presence of Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel.

The fact that the head of state is present at this ceremony is a sign of the importance that the government of the Caribbean nation attaches to science, technology, and innovation, said Tang.

Although we have not emerged from the Covid-19 tunnel, we are convinced that we can turn the page of this difficult chapter experienced by humanity through scientific advances, cooperation, and alliances, said the WIPO director.

Tang recalled that Cuba's anti-Covid-19 vaccines are not an isolated event but the result of a long history.

In fact, many countries have been receiving Cuban immunogens for decades to combat different diseases, said the executive, who praised the high rate of adults vaccinated against the pandemic, including the pediatric segment.

He pointed out that Cuba was the first nation to eliminate the transmission of HIV from mother to child and have an immunizer against Hepatitis B and Meningitis B.

The creators of the Cuban anti-Covid-19 vaccines, Soberana 01, Soberana 02, Abdala, and Mambisa were recognized at the ceremony.

The WIPO Gold Medal Program was established in 1979 to stimulate innovative activity worldwide, particularly in developing countries.

Cuba has received a dozen of these awards for obtaining products such as the drug Heberprot-P from the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB). The invention entitled AntiCD6 monoclonal antibodies for the treatment and diagnosis of psoriasis from the Center for Molecular Immunology.

The first of these was received in 1989 by the Finlay Vaccine Institute (IFV) for the immunogen against Meningococcus (Neisseria Meningitidis) of group B, and in 1999 it was followed by Policosanol or PPG, a multipurpose drug, from the National Center for Scientific Research.

In this case, particular recognition is given to the scientists who developed the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.

Soberana 01 and Soberana 02 were developed in Cuba by the IFV, while Abdala and Mambisa were developed at the CIGB.