CUBA: Biotechnology Facts (2006)
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Workers at BIOCEN package individual doses of Heberbiovac HB, a vaccine against hepatitis B, for distribution.
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Biotech Centers : Cuba has over 300 biotechnology centers, ranging from large, modern facilities to small, modestly-equipped labs, conducting research and developing pharmaceuticals and vaccines, often with international collaboration. Over 38 products are for commercial sale including the salmonella vaccine, meningitis vaccine, culture media and more. Because of Castro's investment in biotechnology – more than $1 billion since the early 1980's – this industry is an important economic factor; Cuba exports more medicine than any other Latin American country and helps other countries set up biotech centers through a Technology Transfer Project. Centers producing vaccines are under construction in China, Russia, Iran, and the Ukraine, and a lab is already operating in India. Cuban pharmaceuticals are for sale in other Latin American countries and in Asia, but are not marketed in Europe or the US. However, in 2004 the US Treasury Department granted an exception to the embargo to allow California's CancerVax Corporation to conduct clinical trials of three cancer vaccines in conjunction with Cuba's Center for Molecular Immunology. Some of the largest and best equipped facilities include:
1. Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB)
- Works on recombinant DNA and genetic research, virology, cloning, vaccines for HIV, Dengue, Fowl Pox, and produces pharmaceuticals for first world markets (9 products in 57 countries). Has conducted clinical trials with Mayo Clinic
- www.cigb.edu.cu/pages/default.htm
2. Center for Molecular Immunology (CIM)
- Develops cancer vaccines and does cancer and mammalian cell research. Has 650 patents and has clinical trials for combined vaccines and cholera and caner vaccines among others. Is conducting clinical trials of cancer vaccines with US's CancerVax.
- www.cim.sld.cu
3. Finlay Institute
- Researches and produces vaccines for meningitis, leptospirosis, typhoid fever, and tetanus toxoid. Finlay has a partnership with GlaxoSmith Kline and claims to have created a Hepatitis B vaccine that has eliminated this disease in Cuba.
- www.finlay-online.com/finlayinstitute/
4. Pedro Kourí Institute of Tropical Medicine (IPK)
- Emphasizes teaching, research, and study of tropical bacteria and viruses and studies yellow fever
- www.ipk.sld.cu
5. Biomedical Center of Cuba (BIOCEN)
- Manufactures recombinant products and has a culture media plant that has created 14 alternative protein sources.
- www.biocen.cu
Other productive, but smaller scale labs include:
1. Detection Anti Virus HIV Laboratory (DAVIHLAB)
-Produces kits for HIV testing and reads the results as well as other HIV work such as an antigen for HIV
2. Pharmaceutical Biological Laboratories (LABIOFAM)
-Develops products for agriculture, pharmaceuticals, nutrition, and cosmetics.
3. Immunoassay Center
-Has screening technology for detection of birth defects, Down Syndrome, and other conditions. Conducts both prenatal and neonatal screening
4. Cuban Center for Neuroscience
-Screens for Alzheimer's, dementia, and brain function and produces technology for mental health such as neuroimaging and neurogenetics.
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Equipment is installed in a new production facility opened by the Finlay Institute in 2004.
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Cuban vs. U.S. Models on Pharmaceutical Development : Because the U.S. trade embargo has made it difficult and expensive for Cuba to obtain globally-produced medicine, it decided in the early 1980s to develop a homegrown pharmaceutical industry to address domestic needs. Today Cuban children are vaccinated against 13 diseases. Unlike profit-driven biotech companies in the United States, such as Pfizer or Merck, Cuba focuses on developing pharmaceuticals primarily for health and not necessarily for profit. While global pharma companies may concentrate on commodities with a large profit potential (such as products for hair loss or erectile dysfunction), Cuban biotech firms are more likely to pursue vaccines to fight infectious disease in the developing world, products that may have little profit potential but greater impact on global health.
Bioweapons Controversy : While Cuba, like any country with an advanced biotech industry, has the capacity and resources to create biological weapons, three WSI delegations have found no indications of this type of work in Cuban laboratories or biotech centers. In 2002, then-Undersecretary of State John Bolton raised eyebrows when he said "the United States believes that Cuba has at least a limited offensive biological warfare research and development effort." But in 2004 The New York Times reported on a new National Intelligence Estimate downgrading allegations on Cuban bioweapons. Representing the consensus of the U.S. intelligence community, the report reflects more stringent standards adopted in the wake of intelligence failures associated with the misreporting of WMD in Iraq. It does say "the IC [Intelligence Community] continues to believe that Cuba has the technical capability to pursue some aspects of an offensive biological weapons program." It also continues to express concern about Cuba's sharing of dual-use technology with countries such as Iran. But it does not claim Cuba has a biological weapons effort. For their part, the Cubans have demonstrated remarkable openness by repeatedly inviting foreign delegations to check out their biotech facilities, as well as encouraging scientific exchanges that would provide a clear window into this sector.
SOURCES:
Steven R. Weisman, "In Stricter Study, U.S. Scales Back Claim on Cuba Arms," New York Times, Sept. 18, 2004
Patricia Grogg, "Cuban Pharmaceuticals Look for Ticket to Europe," InterPress Third World News Agency, April 21, 1999, www.converge.org.nz/lac/articles/news990512c.htm
Glenn Baker (editor), Cuban Biotechnology: A First-Hand Report, Center for Defense Information, May 2003
Cuban National Center for Biopreparations, www.biocen.cu
"US: Cuba Sharing Bioweapons Technology," CNN.com/World, May 6, 2002, archives.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/americas/05/06/cuba.weapons/index.html
Eilene Zimmerman, "The Cuban Cure: A biotech startup figured out how to cut federal red tape and become the first U.S. company to license cancer drugs from Castro`s Cuba," CubaCentral, June 1, 2005, cubacentral.com/todaysnewsdetail.cfm?ID=928
Starr, Douglas, "The Cuban Biotech Revolution," WIRED Magazine, Issue 12.12, Dec. 2004, www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.12/cuba.html?pg=2&topic=cuba&topic_set
Fact Sheet author: Jessica Yoches
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