FDA approved the first clinical trial of a Cuban lung-cancer vaccine.

[Serrecko]

Washington Post > To Your Health >

October 27 at 12:50 PM

In a first, U.S. trial to test Cuban lung-cancer vaccine.

The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first clinical trial to test a Cuban drug in the United States — a lung-cancer vaccine developed in Havana.

The trial will test the CIMAvax-EGF vaccine, combined with an immunotherapy drug called Opdivo, which has already been approved in the United States. The goal is to see if the pairing improves effectiveness.

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I remember reading in the 80's or 90's about the issue of putting to use good data gained from the horror of the concentration camp doctors during World War II. I recall one side said any information that was useful, should not be used based on how the data was collected. I recall this topic was really in the weeds and very few were bothered with it. I was never able to convince myself to take a position on something like this. But here they are putting to a clinical trial a vaccine gained from who knows where and how in Cuba but centered on the cancer I have.

This seems like the same type of issue could appear. I am not sure if using medical knowledge gained at the heel of a jack booted thug, or a communist gulag on the island of Cuba is worth using. But that controversy might crop up again and we all may need to get it some thought.

Mike "Serrecko" March

Leader of The Skyline Gaggle of Noobs - A Fundraising Paintball Team

TheSkylineGaggle.com

[scifiknitter Blogger]

Mike, very interesting perspective.

Apparantly Cuba does have an excellent education system which raises smart doctors and scientists. Due to the nation's poverty and isolation, their medical researchers have not been able to go the route of expensive drug development, but have instead concentrated on biological research. The political leaders of the country may be dictators, but the doctors are not, they are simply trying to find a treatment they can afford for a disease that is common in Cuba.

[Serrecko Volunteer in reply to scifiknitter]

I have always thought the medical field in Cuba was pretty decent, and above your average banana republic system. I can only assume they have lots of research we could find useful and some of their research could and should be used and shared. Medicine and medical research has no geopolitical boundaries.

Mike "Serrecko" March

Leader of The Skyline Gaggle of Noobs - A Fundraising Paintball Team

TheSkylineGaggle.com