Cuban specialists met this Thursday through telematics means with experts and executives of the World and Pan American Health Organizations, as part of a process to achieve recognition by these entities of the COVID-19 vaccines developed on the island.
During the meeting, the first to be held with representatives of the WHO and PAHO to address the approval of the Cuban drugs, Cuban scientists presented details of the results in clinical trials of the Soberana 02, Soberana Plus and Abdala vaccines; as well as the Soberana 01 and Mambisa vaccine candidates, Prensa Latina reported.
The Cuban Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Industries (BioCubaFarma) business group detailed on its Twitter account that the exchange was chaired by Dr. Mariangela Simão, WHO Assistant Director-General for Drug Access, Vaccines and Pharmaceuticals.
On the Cuban side, directors and specialists from the Finlay Vaccine Institute, the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology and the Center for State Control of Medicines, Equipment and Medical Devices (CECMED), the Cuban regulatory authority, were present.
En la reunión virtual con los expertos @CIGBCuba y del @FinlayInstituto, también participó la Autoridad Regulatoria Cubana, @cubacecmed. Su directora ofreció una explicación sobre el proceso de certificación del cumplimiento de las Buenas Prácticas Clínicas y de Fabricación. pic.twitter.com/ZV81sfr4cE
— BioCubaFarma (@BioCubaFarma) September 16, 2021
The PAHO/WHO representative in Havana, José Moya, recently explained that a work team will be established to review the results of clinical trials, production processes and quality of the three Cuban vaccines, the news agency indicated.
As of this meeting, which was described as “fruitful” by Cuban scientists, experts from both health agencies will begin the process of evaluating the documentation submitted by those responsible for Cuban vaccines.
Both the World Health Organization and its regional representative in America recognize the power of the regulatory authorities of each country to approve the use of vaccines, although the endorsement of the WHO creates security and facilitates the entry of these drugs to the international market.
BioCubaFarma denounces fake news related to Cuban Abdala vaccine
When asked if the countries can consider acquiring the Cuban injectable Abdala, PAHO Deputy Director Dr. Jarbas Barbosa said in early September that to buy vaccines through his entity’s revolving fund, the drugs must have the endorsement of the WHO, without exceptions.
In addition to the island, Cuban COVID-19 vaccines are currently used in the fight against the pandemic in Iran and Venezuela, and countries such as Vietnam and Mexico have also shown interest in acquiring them to immunize their population against the contagious disease.
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OnCuba Staff 
