Cuban scientists will soon begin the phase of clinical study of a potential vaccine against the HIV virus, a scientific source announced on Wednesday.

Speaking with local reporters in a press conference on Tuesday, the Director of Technological Development at the Center of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (CIGB), Eduardo Martinez, said that the product "is still under research, but it should be on the phase of clinical study next year."

He noted that "it is a therapeutic vaccine for people already infected with the virus. We believe that it can help improve the treatment by itself alone or combined with other retroviral medicines, a lot of which Cuba already produces."

The specialist also announced that, in an upcoming international conference that will take place in Cuba, they will show the results of a clinical study (Phase 3) of Hebertprot, a product used on the island to prevent amputation in patients suffering from ulcers of diabetic foot, mainly in the third and fourth degrees.

Martinez said that clinical studies are also underway with the Pegilado Interferon against hepatitis "that reduces the number of applications of this product to only one instead of the current three with the standard interferon. This reduces the adverse side effects of the product and increases its efficiency," he explained.

(acn)