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The CIGB has become one of the most important research-production facilities at the "Western Havana Bio-Cluster" and conducts research in the fields of healthcare and agri/animal biotechnology. Research generated by the CIGB has developed a number of products, which are already having a significant impact to society.

One such product is Heberprot-P® which was developed to treat diabetic foot ulcers which are the most common cause of nontraumatic lower extremity amputations in the industrialized world, let alone in developing countries. This product was the result of more than 10 years of research and two subsequent clinical trials which were performed in Cuba. The CIGB and the National Institute of Angiology and Vascular Surgery performed the first clinical trial with Heberprot-P® in 29 type-II diabetic patients who had micro and/or macro angiopathy (disease of the blood vessels: arteries, veins, and capillaries) and as a result, 55% of patients were saved from amputations. A second clinical trial was conducted with 41 patients and 80% patients were saved from amputations. The novelty of Heberprot-P® is in its application route. Rather than just applying it to the open wound it is injected into the healthy margins of the wound, thereby allowing the tissue to initiate the wound healing process before it is destroyed.

In January 2006, the CIGB started the first clinical trial assess the safety and performing a dose scale-up study with the trial drug CIGB-300 in patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN-II; the pre-invasive stage of cervical cancer) and carcinoma in situ (CIS; an early form of carcinoma defined by the absence of invasion of surrounding tissues) who have failed to respond to other available treatments. CIGB-300 is a pro-apoptotic cyclic peptide that works by blocking protein kinase 2 (CK2) phosphorylation and has been shown to exhibit anti-tumour effects in vivo.

Other CIGB products include a Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine (the only synthetic vaccine of its kind in the world) which was designed and synthesized at the Laboratory of Synthetic Antigens at the Havana University as well as a recombinant vaccine for Hepatitis-B, thrombolytic recombinant streptokinase, and human recombinant erythropoietin, granulocyte colony stimulating factor and alpha and gamma interferons. An Immunopreparation for treating Hepatitis B chronic patients is in advanced clinical evaluation stage, and other innovative products include dengue fever, hepatitis C and anti-cancer vaccines (Table 1). In addition, the CIGB is negotiating technology transfer operations with other countries for its vaccines and drugs.

In non-human research aquaculture has benefited from the development of the growth stimulator Acuabio-1 by the CIGB, which improves both growth and survival of farmed fish and has been tested, in Cuba, in laboratory and pilot scale tests, and is currently being implemented in the National Aquaculture Program sponsored by the Fisheries Ministry.

The CIGB's strategic approach

The CIGB has more than 15 years of experience in the production of several recombinant biopharmaceutical molecules, which are already producing a positive impact on public health in Cuba and generate exports to more than 30 countries.

The CIGB strategy holds a high level of coherence with the global oriented commercial strategy of the Havana Scientific Pole. The CIGB develops scientific and production activities in close collaboration with other institutions of the Scientific Pole, and the National Health and Agriculture Ministries. Heber Biotec S.A. is the commercial arm that owns the exclusive rights for commercialization of the CIGB and R&D projects. Heber Biotec S.A. closes the cycle from research to commercialization of the CIGB results, and commercializes products from other 7 Cuban biotechnology institutions. The commercial strategy involves the expansion of sales into new markets while maintaining current established positions. The CIGB and Heber Biotec S.A. are working together on the introduction of novel products in Europe and Canada, promoting early stage associations for joint development of projects, and sharing commercial opportunities with partners. A critical mass of talent has had to be suitably managed to generate innovations from applied and basic research, and significant annual sale growth rates from the CIGB products and technologies, under very narrow financial boundaries.