The inclusion of drugs of national production in the treatment protocols for suspected and confirmed patients with Covid-19, has had a favorable impact on the reduction of severity and deaths as a result of the disease, Doctor Pedro Luis Rodríguez Cabrera , member of the Committee of Experts of the Roberto Rodríguez Fernández General Teaching Hospital, in the province of Ciego de Ávila, said.
“Although there is a considerable number of patients in serious conditions below the national average, even the number of deaths has been minimal in relation to other territories of the country, as a result of the application of drugs that they strengthen the immune system and make it possible to counteract the systemic inflammations caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus,” the also II Degree Specialist in Pediatrics underlined.
The territory of Ciego de Ávila has three medical assistance centers for suspected and confirmed patients with the new coronavirus, where drugs belonging to the interferon family are used, which increase the response capacity of patients; and others such as Itolizumab and Jusvinza, effective in combating systemic inflammations that lead to seriousness and death.
“These drugs are administered to patients in correspondence with the manifestations of the disease. Before having symptoms of systemic inflammation, Caletra and interferons are applied fundamentally. If inflammatory processes are evidenced, proved by clinical and radiological examinations, the treatment undergoes variations: the interferon administration is stopped and we start the basic drugs, Jusvinza, which is an immunomodulatory peptide, obtained at the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB by its Spanish initials); and Itolizumab, an anti-CD6 monoclonal antibody, developed by the Center for Molecular Immunology.
"The results have been good, as an adequate response has been observed in the patients so far," Dr. Rolando Torrecilla Díaz, member of the Committee of Experts of the referred hospital and II Degree Specialist in Internal Medicine and Intensive and Emergency Medicine, explained.
The availability of these drugs, thanks to the development of the Cuban Biopharmaceutical Industry, has also made possible to carry out therapeutic interventions to protect the personnel working in the Morón`s hospital.
"Workers aged 60 years or more, and to those who suffer from diseases that constitute a risk were initially administrated with Nasalferon (from the family of interferons) and, currently, Biomodulin-T," Doctor Rodríguez Cabrera emphasized.
According to an article published by the journal Anales de la Academia de Ciencias de Cuba, “the new coronavirus pandemic has challenged the response capacity of health systems in most countries. Cuba's strategy has recently been analyzed in an article published by President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez and Professor Jorge Núñez Jover.
“A component of this strategy is the Cuban biopharmaceutical industry. The drug coverage of the protocol established by the MINSAP was guaranteed. Several products under development were quickly repositioned for use in Covid-19.
“Biopharmaceuticals such as Nasalferon, Biomodulin-T and Hebertrans have been used to prevent infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus in risk groups; Heberon and Heberferon were administered as antiviral treatments, while Jusvinza and Itolizumab were used to stop the hyperinflammatory reaction. Biotechnology products have contributed to a reduction in critically ill patients, and to a reduction in mortality, approximately 10 times lower than the world rate.