The loan, signed by the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), is intended for a project to improve the national response capacity against diseases such as Covid-19.

The execution of the budget contemplates the reinforcement of the infrastructure for the production of injectable antibiotics, parenteral solutions (serums), generic and biosimilar drugs, diagnosticians and medical equipment, the statement detailed.

Likewise, the entity highlighted that the financing will impact the treatment of people infected with Covid-19 and other communicable diseases, as well as the acquisition of health supplies and medical protection material to prevent contagion.

The UNDP office in the Caribbean nation stressed that the strengthening of the pharmaceutical industry and the production of 200 million doses of vaccines will contribute to reaching higher levels of economic productivity.

A scenario to which the development of innovative medicines and the modernization of technology will also contribute, with a view to diversification for the benefit of the Cuban national health system and other countries in the region, the institution stressed.

The executive president of CABEI, Dante Mossi, said that the initiative constitutes a health support response to protect the lives of Cuban families by strengthening the health system.

The financial entity, the text referred, granted the loan under the specialized mechanism established by that integrationist entity for activities and operations with Cuba.

UNDP collaborates globally with a view to building resilience in the face of the multidimensional crisis resulting from the Covid 19 pandemic.

In its Cuban chapter, the United Nations institution supports the implementation of donations to strengthen the production capacities of medicines, medical supplies and food, as part of the commitments of its Cooperation Framework with this nation.

(With information from PL)

He explained that the manufacturing process is underway for 100,000 doses to supply broader clinical trials of Soberana 01 and Soberana 02, and to support the needs of the country and other nations interested in the vaccine, PL reported.

Dr. Vérez indicated that Soberana 02 will begin phase III clinical studies March 1, with 42,600 volunteers. Eduardo Martínez Díaz, president of the BioCubaFarma Enterprise Group, said that the country has the capacity to supply these processes, and more will be created in the near future to guarantee the simultaneous production of Cuba’s four vaccines, the aforementioned, as well as the Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Center’s Mambisa and Abdala.

Regarding Soberana 01, Dr. Vérez reported that findings from phase I clinical trials have been very positive, and that the plan is to begin phase II-III in March.

At the end of February, clinical trials of both candidates will begin in the pediatric population, which will include patients from five to 18 years of age. At the same time, phase I trials will be conducted with convalescent patients exhibiting low antibody titers, after having been infected and at risk for re-infection.

Regarding the advantages of this candidate vaccine, the expert noted that it would constitute an ideal immunity booster for patients recovering from a sars-cov-2 infection, and also for those vaccinated with biotechnological products.

(Taken from Prensa Latina)