HeberFERON: Cuban drug against skin cancer

Cuba has registered a drug called HeberFERON for the treatment of skin cancer, obtained from biotechnological formulations.

HeberFERON is a scientific breakthrough developed by the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB) in Havana after more than 20 years of research and clinical trials.

This drug is a unique formulation in the world that combines interferon alpha 2b and interferon gamma, produced recombinantly at the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology.

HeberFERON is an injectable medication that has been shown to eliminate or shrink non-melanoma skin tumors and can prevent the after-effects of surgery in areas such as the face, where surgery is difficult for patients with this condition.

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common malignant skin tumor and, in turn, the most common overall. Among the most influential factors in those who suffer from it are exposure to ultraviolet light and genetic predisposition.

Basal carcinoma has been on the rise worldwide, directly related to atmospheric factors. Damage to the ozone layer and the incidence of ultraviolet rays are more evident in tropical countries.

This is the case in Cuba, where the high incidence of skin cancer is primarily caused by excessive sun exposure, specifically ultraviolet radiation.

According to experts, Cuba's aging population and lack of sun protection explain the sharp increase in skin cancer patients on the island.

Early detection and surgical treatment remain the first curative option; however, in some people, traditional therapeutic options are contraindicated, primarily due to clinical factors.

HeberFERON has been proven to induce an antitumor response, and five years after treatment, the absence of tumor recurrence is reported. It also reduces the appearance of new lesions eightfold because it acts remotely, has a highly aesthetic appeal, and can be used before or after surgery, or in combination with radiation and chemotherapy.

The drug was registered in Cuba in August 2016, and since October of that year, it has been included in the country's basic medication list.

Compared with the expensive treatments used worldwide for this type of condition, the therapy provided by HeberFERON has proven to be very effective.

It is known that skin cancer is not among the most deadly cancers, but it does have a high aesthetic and, as one might imagine, psychological cost for patients.

The CIGB's manufacturing plants have already produced more than 10.000 vials of the innovative drug, which offers hope to so many skin cancer patients in the country and around the world.

Specialists at the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology are continuing studies to evaluate the effectiveness of HeberFERON in other types of cancer.