The implementation of multiple educational programs since 1959 laid the necessary professional underpinnings for, the 1980s witnessed the creation in Cuba of a new development strategy for biotechnology. The Biologic Front was founded in 1981 with the participation of several existing scientific institutions.

In that same decade, a number of scientific centers popped up, including the Biologic Research Center, the Center of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, the Center for Lab Animals (CENPALAB), the National Bio-Products Center (BIOCEN), the Experimental Immunology Center, and the Molecular Immunology Center (CIM). Moreover, other centers were remodeled and enhanced to accommodate the biotechnological industry, like the Pedro Kouri Tropical Medicine Institute (IPK) and the Finlay Institute.

From the mid 1980s to date, biotechnology has reached out to other provinces as well with the opening of the Center of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology of Camaguey and the Vegetable Biotechnology Center at the University of Villa Clara, together with similar institutions in the provinces of Ciego de Avila, Sancti Spiritus, Holguin and Santiago de Cuba.

Today, the country boasts a broad network of bio-factories for making in vitro plants that eventually benefit agriculture nationwide. As a result, more plague-resistant crops have come out of those centers, especially new varieties of sugarcane, potato, tobacco, banana, vegetables and citrus fruits. At the same time, there have been breakthroughs in the field of animal biotechnology with the making of new-generation veterinarian vaccines and transgenic animal species.

THE TRAILBLAZER A symbol of the achievements scored by Cuba’s biotechnological industry over the past two decades, the Center of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology is one of the foundations of scientific advance on the island nation, featuring top-of-the-line products now being sold in more than a dozen nations.

Extraordinary could be the right word to call the impact the Center of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB is the Spanish acronym) has achieved in over twenty years of dedicated research, making and marketing of products that now bask in the international limelight for their exclusiveness and proven effectiveness.

The center’s origins hark back to the making of leukocytic interferon five years before, according to what CIGB deputy chief Dr. Francisco Machado Ramirez told Caribbean Tourist Excellences as he spelled out the details that support the toilsome job of all scientists in this institution –a harbinger of Cuban biotechnology and one of fifty centers that make up the West Scientific Circuit.

Cuba has conducted countless world-class research studies with major outcomes in the making of human and animal vaccines, diagnosis methods, monoclonal antibodies, biological products and pharmaceuticals.

From the creation of interferon –the first product developed at the center that, as a matter of fact has evolved dramatically thanks to the use of new applications- the CIGB –Dr. Machado points out- has worked on a variety of other products, like the recombining epidermic growth factor or the vaccine to attack Type-B hepatitis (Heberbiovac HB), currently used to immunize the Cuban population below 25 years of age and now registered in approximately 35 countries in Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa. The recombining vaccine against ticks (GAVAC) is just another feather this institution has put in its broad-brimmed hat that has made a significant dent in both the incidence and mortality rate of diseases transmitted by this cattle-attacking mite. Today, this pharmaceutical has moved beyond CIGB and is being produced in a similar center in the province of Camaguey.

Among the new kids on the block, the center has come up with Citropot-P to treat advanced diabetic feet with unique advantages in the world since it heals ulcers and sores, and prevents in many cases limbs from being amputated –a condition that affects a considerable chunk of the world population suffering from diabetes.

This particular medication is officially registered in Cuba to be used by angiologists on any patient risking the amputation of one of his or her limbs in roughly 30 hospitals across the island nation.

Another recent hit put on the board by CIGB is the first recombining monoclonal antibody obtained from genetically-altered plants (plant-bodies) used in making the Type-B hepatitis vaccine.

As a major precision that has to be made, Dr. Machado mentioned the integration of all scientific institutions, a move that has paved the way for the strengthening and the success of today’s Cuban biotechnological development.

In that sense, Dr. Machado made reference to the vaccine against Type-B heamophilous influenza obtained out of a synthetic antigen that clinches immunization against the bacterium that causes meningitis and pneumonia in children under one year of age, as well as the pentavalent vaccine –officially registered- that protects kids against such diseases as whooping cough, diphtheria and tetanus.

CIGB is by far Cuba’s largest research center and is outfitted –other than its research areas- with a production unit and a marketing entity (Herber Biotec S. A.), that acts as exclusive representative of the pharmaceuticals developed there and in other centers at the Scientific Circuit.

CIGB’S PRODUCTS Herber Biotec S.A. is the company that markets products and services developed by CIGB such as Trivac HB for active immunization against diphtheria, whooping cough and Type-B hepatitis in children from two years of age onward; Heberkinasa to treat heart attacks, deep vein thrombosis and other ailments; Quimi-Hib for active immunization of children between two and five years of age against invasive diseases caused by Type-B hemophilus influenza; Heberviron to treat chronic Type-C hepatitis; Heberon Alfa R Colirio used in treatments against epidermic hemorrhagic conjunctivitis; Hebertrans to treat patients suffering from concurrent cellular immunodeficiency; Heberbiovac HB for active immunization against VHB and the prevention of its potential consequences; Heberon Alpha R against human papilloma, Type-B and Type-C viral hepatitis, zoster herpes and HIV-infected people; GAVAC for active immunization of cattle against boophilus sp-type ticks; Heberitro for treatments against anemia caused by chronic kidney failure, patients suffering from AIDS under therapeutic regimens; Zidovudina for cancer patients under chemotherapy; HeberFast Line MaterniTest, a test that detects the presence of gonadothropic chorionic human hormone (GCh) in urine samples from the first day of missing menses and with an accuracy rate of up to 99 percent; HeberFast Line Pregnancy provides a fast one-step qualitative test to detect the presence of gonadothropic chorionic human hormone (HCG) in urine samples; HeberFast Line Rotavirus provides a fast one-step qualitative test to detect the presence of Type-A rotavirus in stool samples, and Anti-Gliadinas an immunological test that consists of the use of pale-while polystichous strips of eight cups each treated with antigen (wheat gliadin). Contacts: Phone: (53 7) 33 1410. Fax: (53 7) 33 6008. Email: luis.herrera@cigb.edu.cu

NATIONAL CENTER OF BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS Founded on August 14, 1992, the primary line of the National Center of Biological Products lies in the making of new produce for microbiological diagnosis, allergy treatments and anti-anemic products, and the development of biotechnological products for the pharmaceutical industry. In addition, the center provides service in the formulation, filling, freeze-drying, checking and bottling of low-volume parenterals; the making of active ingredients for vaccines, biological pharmaceuticals and other items; the making and marketing of culturing means and nutrition bases for microbiologic diagnosis and crops; the making and marketing of hydrolyzed proteins, widely used in making up for nutrition and/or health problems; the making and marketing of allergenic extracts for both diagnosis and immunotherapy; the making of biological trials for quality control on I+D-oriented products and tests for animals –featuring a quality control system that embraces all of the center’s activities. Contacts: Phones: 047 682201. Email: biocen@biocen.cu. Website: www.biocen.cu

FINLAY INSTITUTE This pharmaceutical institution –founded on January 15, 1991- focuses on the research, development, making and marketing of human vaccines. Among its top production lines, the center makes bacterial vaccines against cholera, TB, meningitis and other diseases that still lack preventive actions. The institute also works in the development of adjuvants, diagnosis items and antigens for a variety of uses. Among the products and services this center puts on the market are: VA-MENGOC-BC®, BC anti-meningitis vaccine –the only one of its kind in the world that has proven effective against Type-B meningococcus and Type-C serological grouping; vax-SPIRAL®, a vaccine to fight trivalent leptospirosis (for human use); vax-TET®, an anti-tetanic vaccine; vax-TyVi®, a vaccine to combat Vi polysaccharide-origin typhoid; dT, DT and DPT, vaccines with combined action against diphtheria and tetanus in both children and adults, and a triple-action vaccine (diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus), as well as an assortment of other products. Contacts: Phone: (53-7) 271-6553, 271-6557, 271-8945, 208-0985, 272-0645. Fax: (537) 273-1218. Email: comercialafinlay.edu.cu. Website: www.finlay.sld.cu.

CUBA’S CENTER OF NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES (CNEURO) Founded in 1990, this center embraces primary lines of work and research based on the advance of neurological imaging, the designing of medical equipment, and the development of cognitive neurological sciences –comprising the study of the mind’s cerebral bases. Furthermore, the center works on the making and nationwide use of neurological technology, keeps an eye on a national network of in-hospital labs, and carries out an increasingly larger exporting activity –it has churned out more than $14 million over the past five years. In addition to its vast teaching activity, CNEURO has come up with Cuba’s first medical equipment certified by the European Union (CE) and currently marketed by Neuronic S.A., a company that sells, among other items for neurological diagnosis, MEDICID 5 (electromyography and evoked potentials), AUDIX 5 (digital electro-audiometer), GUEFAST (electrophoresis system of pulsating fields), MEDICID 5-128 (cerebral CAT scanner), MEDICID FENIX (portable ECG scanner), and MEDICID PANDA (dream register). Contacts: Mailing address: 15007 25th Avenue on the corner of 158th Street, Cubanacán, Playa. Phone: (537) 2086568/ 2087090 & 91. Fax: (537) 2086707. Email: mitchell@cneuro.edu.cu.

CENTER OF IMMUNOLOGICAL STUDIES Founded on September 7, 1987, this center maps out strategies and develops new technologies for massive diagnosis. Its top research and development lines include the making of equipment, software and diagnosis kits. Moreover, its commercial representative –Tecnosuma Internacional S.A.- offers the SUMA® Technology, a system made up of a number of diagnosis kits, equipment for making those kits run, software for outcome screenings and post-sale services that embrace installation, starting, training, technical, instrumental and analytical assistance, as well as scientific advisory. This technology is meant to be used by both small labs and nationwide healthcare programs. Many of these kits accept samples of dry blood on blotting paper, thus making it easier to take these tests in faraway and inadequate places where normal lab conditions are inexistent (serum or plasma). The use of dry blood on blotting paper also guarantees the possibility of a central lab where samples are dispatched to by mail pouch from different diagnosis checkpoints for further analysis. SUMA® Technology is applied in huge healthcare programs, like the Maternal-Children Program (for prenatal and neonatal assistance): kits for detecting congenial hyperthyroidism, fenilcetonuria, congenial adrenal hyperplasia, galactosemia and biotinidasa are part of the tests for neonatal programs. Prenatal assistance counts on some kits of its own to keep tabs on alpha fetus protein tests that allow the detection of congenial malformations during pregnancy. Another set of kits is used in the Mother-to-Child Disease Prevention Programs to avoid transmission of such illnesses as HIV, Type B and C hepatitis, chagas, hanseniasis and dengue. Contacts: Tecnosuma International S.A. Phones: 208 5611 /208 7811 Fax: 208 6800 tsdirector@cie.sld.cu www.tecnosuma.com

PRODUCERS OF GENERIC MEDICATIONS AICA Laboratories Founded in January 1999 for the making of injecting medications in blister packs for human use in both the domestic and international markets, these labs are outfitted with classified clearance areas for the making, sterilization, filling and sealing of injecting medications in blister packs of 1, 2, 3, 5, 10 and 20 ml, plus 100,000, 10,000 and 100 state-of-the-art low laminar flowage areas. Medications for Cardiovascular Pharmacological Groups, bronco-dilating medications, anti-emetics, psychotropic medications, anesthetics, drugs and stupefacient drugs such as Ondansetron, Atracurio, Midazolam, Norepinefrine, Betametasone, Dopamine, Morphine, Aminophiline, Haloperidol, Oxitocine, Sumatriptan, among others. LIORAD Laboratories It was founded in January 1999 with a view to make injecting liquefied and lyophilized medications in blister packs and capsules for exports and the domestic market, in compliance with the requirements of the Good Production Practices for Aseptic Processes. It comprises 470 square meters of clearance areas for the making, sterilization, filling and sealing of anesthetic medications, cardio stimulants, anti-ulcerous medications, anti-clogging medications and such antiseptics as Omeprazol, Dobutamine, Ketamine, Succinilcoline, Sodium Heparine, among others, as well as Lidocaine 2% + epinefrina 1:50000, Lidocaine 2% + epinefrina 1:80000 and Mepivacaine, dental anesthetics. NOVATEC Laboratories It was founded in October 2000 with a mission to produce tablets and capsules in an effort to meet domestic and international demand for high-quality medications in compliance with Good Production Practices. It embraces a grand total of 5,400 square meters of facilities outfitted with proper conditions for granulation, pressing, batching, coating, blistering and bottling of tablets and capsules. Some of its primary medications are antiretroviral, blood pressure depressors, antihistaminic, antiviral, antibodies, anti-ulcerous, anti-itching, and blood vessel dilating medications such as Amlodipino 10, Azitromicine 250 and 500, Captopril 25 and 50, Didanosina 100, Enalapril 10 and 20, Estavudina 40, Fluconazol 150, Indinavir 200, Lamivudina 150, Loratadina 10, Nevirapina 200, Omeprazol 20, Pentoxyphiline Retard 400, Zidovudina 300, Rivabirina 200. Contacts: Heber Biotec. Phone: ( 53 7) 271 3464, 271 8039 Fax: ( 53 7) 273 6008 mayda.mauri@cigb.edu.cu

INTERNATIONAL NEUROLOGICAL REHABILITATION CENTER (CIREN) Founded on February 26, 1989, this center provides top-of-the-line medical services of comprehensive neurological rehabilitation on the basis of the Programs of Neurological Rehabilitation and General Biological Rehabilitation. It also conducts clinical and experimental research aimed at expanding knowledge in the field of applied neurological sciences. Some of its research lines home in on technology for stereotactic surgery (ESTEREOFLEX CUBAN SYSTEM) together with the Center of Immunological Studies (CIE) and the development of software like the Image Processing and Fusion System for stereotactic neurosurgery (STASSIS); the first Windows-supported version of the computerized Neurological Depth Register System (NDRS); the Parkinson’s Disease Detection System (it includes SELECTIVE DORSAL LATERAL SUBTHALAMOTONY as functional surgery applied in treating this particular disease); refractory epilepsy surgery with use of the Telemetry Unit; Functional Surgery (Palidotomy) in Distony, and a new method for the quantification of brain blood flow through SPECT (Special Proton Emission Cerebral Tomography). At the same time, the center works on neuron-plasticity (a limbic modulation of neuron-plasticity processes), a Neurological Rehabilitation Project used as therapeutic strategy that combines pharmacological, surgical and neuron-rehabilitation methods that create a new technology for neurological rehabilitation treatments in a multifactor, interdisciplinary, intensive and customized fashion based on the neuron-plasticity principle. This application secures structural and functional rehabilitation of the affected nervous system by highly qualified and trained multidisciplinary teams. Contacts: Phones: 273 6003, 273 6571, 271 6999, 271 5823 Fax: 273 2420, 273 6302, 273 6028, 273 6339 cineuro@neuro.ciren.cu www.ciren.cu

DALMER S.A. LABORATORIES It’s linked to the Center of Natural Products with research lines focused on the combat of highly common diseases, like those affecting the cardiovascular system, the gastrointestinal system, the muscles and the genital-urinary system. Among the products marketed by the labs stand out the Policosanol (ATEROMIXOLO, PPGO, DUPLAO), extracted from sugarcane and used as a cholesterol depressor and for other beneficial pleiotropic effects in the handling of atherosclerosis –this product is being currently exported to over twenty countries; VasoactolO (extracted from sugarcane alcohols) and with positive effects on the metabolism of lipids and used as an antioxidant that produces good ergogenic results; AbexolO is a mixture of alcohols extracted from beeswax and used as an antioxidant, and PrevenoxO for bone strengthening and widely useful in treating osteoporosis. Contacts: Phones: 53 7 208 5835; 273 0167; 208 0948. Fax: 53 7 273 6837. Email: dalmer@enet.cu

CENTER OF MOLECULAR IMMUNOLOGY (CIM) Cuban biotechnological institution devoted to basic research, development and making of products from the culturing of mammal cells. With vast experiences in the field of monoclonal antibodies –it’s been working in that particular field since 1980 with a payroll of 500 employees, most of them scientists and engineers- the center’s staff zeroes in research on the quest for new products for both diagnosis and treatment of cancer and related diseases that affect the immunological system. The CIM conducts clinical tests in highly specialized hospitals to diagnose tumors through imaging resolution and to treat a variety of cancers and other diseases that pound the immunological system. Since 1992, CIMAB S.A. has been the exclusive representative of the Center of Molecular Immunology (CIM). It also represents AICA Labs and the Plant of Cytostatics at CIDEM to sell some of its pharmaceuticals overseas. Among the products marketed by this company, there’s need to mention the CD3 monoclonal antibody to treat patients that reject organ transplants, the recombining human eritropoyetine for anemia treatment, the stimulant factor for granulocytic colonies to treat neutropenia, the “humanized” monoclonal antibody that detects the receptor of the epidermic growth factor ( (EGF-R) for cancer treatment, as well as antibodies, chemotherapy medications to treat neoplasia, plus a wide array of products for research and treatment of a number of pathologies like cancer, AIDS and other immunological disorders. CIMAB S.A. represents over twenty biotechnological products and pharmaceuticals developed at the Center of Molecular Immunology, as well as other scientific institutions. It holds 28 sanitary registrations in 17 countries, with 34 commercial contracts signed with 31 companies in 33 nations. CIMAB S.A. is getting set to export over $20 million worth of products in 2006 and hopes to remain as a solid competitive enterprise in the making of cancer treatment products for both the domestic and the world markets. That aspiration will get a mighty leg up with the installation of new facilities bought in the People’s Republic of China and India, the signing of contracts with industrialized nations and the buttressing its corporate image on the basis of objective outcomes.

Contacts: CIMAB S.A. Phones: 53 (7) 2716275, 2715057, 2725162 & 2725163. Fax 53 (7) 2733509, Email: cimab @ict.cim.sld.cu. Website: http://cimab.cim.sld.cu:100