Phase II of the clinical trial of the Prolinem-DS Cuban allergy vaccine for asthmatic patients will begin shortly, Dr. Raúl Lázaro Castro Almarales, a 2nd degree specialist in allergy, announced in Havana. He said that this new generation immunogen already has a patent in several countries.
The vaccine was developed by the National Center for Biopreparations (BIOCEN) and the Finlay Institute. It reduces the number of injections from 23 to six every 14 days, compared to the Valergén vaccine. This is used for the treatment of allergic asthma by injection and sublingual means, said the specialist.
He also announced that for this study, which will be implemented in the Calixto García and Hermanos Ameijeiras hospitals, 60 asthmatic patients from 18 to 50 years of age are needed.
Castro Almarales said that the Valergén vaccine, created by BIOCEN, was registered in Cuba― the subcutaneous one in 2005 and the sublingual in 2008 ―and that it is part of the basic table of medicines. The specialists apply it at the primary level, both in children and adults, both ways.
The high incidence of asthma is a health problem in Cuba and the rest of the world.