Latest News:  

English>>Life & Culture

Cuban scientists seek cancer cure from scorpion venom

(Xinhua)

10:31, December 25, 2012

HAVANA, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- Cuban scientists are trying to cure cancer with a homeopathic drug manufactured from the venom of scorpion, according to an annual symposium held in the country on Sunday.

The symposium of "Serving Life", held at the Camilo Cienfuegos General Hospital in the central city of Sancti Spiritus, showcased their research into scorpion venom with a new drug called Vidatox 30 CH.

The homeopathic drug from the venom of the blue scorpion (Rhopalurus junceus), an endemic species in the western part of Cuba, can be used to treat a wide range of cancers such as those of the breast, liver, brain, prostate and lung, participants of the symposium said.

Vidatox, produced by Cuba's Entrepreneurial Group for Bio-Pharmaceutical and Chemical Productions (Labiofam), can help increase survival rates of cancer patients, prevent the spread of cancerous cells and improve the quality of life.

For more than four decades, cancer has been the second leading cause of death in Cuba among all age groups, after death of cardiovascular diseases. About 18,000 people die of cancer in Cuba every year, according to official figures.

More than 27,000 cases of cancer are diagnosed each year, the official daily Juventud Rebelde (Rebel Youth) cited Sunday Dr. Moses Santos, a specialist in internal medicine, as saying.

The disease has become the leading cause of death among children aged 5 to 10, oncologist Dr. Jorge Alvarez said.

To combat the disease, Cuba also markets four cancer vaccines developed by the Havana Center for Molecular Immunology (CIM) and exports them to 26 countries in Latin America, Asia and Africa. The vaccines are divided into "supportive drugs" used to reduce the harmful effects of radiation and chemotherapy, and "specific drugs" designed to fight tumors.

We recommend:

PK! Who is real red carpet queen?

Liberated cover girls on Old Shanghai pictorials

Top10 beauties in court costumes of Qing Dynasty

Female stars hates HD camera ! I bet !

Looted jade seals from Old Summer Palace

Shocking! Stars' impressive outfits

Time to abandon Olympic obsession

Female stars' grins: too horrible to look at !

The silent beauty of the Summer Palace in winter

Email|Print|Comments(Editor:叶欣、陈丽丹)

Leave your comment0 comments

  1. Name

  

Selections for you


  1. Submarines in confrontation drill

  2. China's J-11 fighters fly over Mt. Qomolangma

  3. Monti considers leadership in case "agenda" upheld

  4. China in winter snow wonderland

  5. With me, you are not alone

  6. Internet gaming: 'A winning gamble'

  7. World's hottest supermodels in 2012

  8. Observing outer space through Telescope

Most Popular

Opinions

  1. Optimism over China's economy surfaces
  2. Internet gaming: 'A winning gamble'
  3. People have right to know what chickens eat
  4. Catchwords in memory in 2012
  5. Why the young Chinese get physically weaker
  6. Why Discover China is popular in the West
  7. The laughter sounds too harsh
  8. Do not confuse Confucious with Santa Claus

What’s happening in China

11 Chinese children dead after van plunges into pond

  1. Good Samaritan vote attracts 80 mln netizens
  2. Draft law to protect personal privacy
  3. China aims to ensure 'equal pay for same job'
  4. 89 children rescued in Chinese trafficking ring bust
  5. Railway to create network of 'city clusters'