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Who they are.- LABIOFAM is the only laboratory authorized
by the Cuban Government to carry out the development and research
Project on the use of the blue scorpion venom as a possible anticarcinogenic
agent. It is a drug company owned by the Cuban government which
headquarters and main production factories are located in Havana.
How they work.- LABIOFAM works together with other Cuban
state institutions in a multidisciplinary way. The work groups are
composed of professionals completely qualified to carry out the
ESCOZUL
research and ESCOZUL
production. Firstly we will talk about its rigor based on three
essential aspects: group capacity, working methods and scientific
results.
Group capacity.
The research is developed by LABIOFAM together with other Cuban
state institutions such as the Ministry of Science, Technology and
Environment, the Ministry of Public Health, the Institute of Tropical
Medicine "Pedro Kouri" (IPK), the National Institute of
Oncology and Radiology (INOR) and the Faculty of Biology of the
Havana University. This leader group also includes the work of professionals
on different scientific branches. It also counts with a professional
medical team with many years of expertise.
Working methods.
A research such as the one carried out at LABIOFAM requires the
interrelation of many subjects. According to what was presented
by this group at the event that took place in Guantanamo, in addition
to the information provided by Dr. Maestre, the objective of this
primary work is based on the demonstration of the antiproliferative
activity in vitro, and at the same time, to show that there is no
toxic activity when taken orally and to prove its analgesic and
anti-inflammatory properties. This first step was concluded with
excellent results (see
results on the research about ESCOZUL). At the second step which
also showed positive results, the effects of ESCOZUL on mice with
different types of cancer were evaluated, and there are also being
investigated the possible mechanisms of action of ESCOZUL. And the
final third step is the development of a clinical study with human
patients with cancer. These trials are in phase III, where it was
determined the product's innocuosness and at the same time, there
are being evaluated the results of the application of ESCOZUL on
people.
On the other hand, ecological studies are also being carried out,
putting emphasis on the breeding in captivity and the handling of
populations in a sustainable way. LABIOFAM owns 15 blue scorpion
breeding farms dispersed through the entire Cuban territory. They
maintain the scorpions isolated and on a balanced diet which keep
the monthly obtained venom concentration high and constant.
The protocol of patient care started in the 90s, when summations
of medical records started to be received and the traditional medical
records were elaborated. These are filed at LABIOFAM's local medical
consulting room where the evolution of each case is monthly recorded.
LABIOFAM registers data such as: type of traditional treatment followed
by the patient, the patient's symptoms before starting the treatment
with ESCOZUL, the length of time that the patient has been taking
ESCOZUL and the patient's symptoms after taking ESCOZUL over a period
of time. LABIOFAM treats patients from all over the world.
The procedure of venom extraction and ESCOZUL's production are very
accurate. After milking the blue scorpions, the concentration of
the core solution is determined by using biochemical methods. Then
the solution core is diluted until it reaches a set standard concentration
of 0.003 mg/l. Patients are recommended to take 20 to 100 milliliters
daily of ESCOZUL and they are provided with ESCOZUL doses for 2
or 3 months. Nevertheless, the standard concentration of ESCOZUL
has some disadvantages for patients with more advanced cancer stages
because the effect of the treatment is not enough in these cases
since they require a larger volume and venom concentration.
LABIOFAM works with highly qualified professionals, specifically
trained for pharmaceutical practice, for milking blue scorpions
and filtering impurities from the venom, etc. They posses the knowledge
and equipment to carry out these tasks.
Scientific results.
The scientific results produced by LABIOFRM focus on showing both
the antitumoral properties of the blue scorpion venom and its analgesic
and anti-inflammatory properties. These results have been presented
at different events but only as preliminary
results. Scientific papers have not yet been published as LABIOFAM
considers that final results should not be published until the trials
have been finalized and the protein or the peptides with anticarcinogenic
properties have been isolated in order to obtain the product massively
and in an industrialized way.
Until the research on ESCOZUL has been fully completed and the product
has been certified, it is against Cuban Law to distribute this product
commercially. Consequently any international supplier claiming to
have sale agreements with LABIOFAM is not telling the truth, as
the company cannot trade ESCOZUL directly.
Objectives.- This group works on the research, production
and distribution of ESCOZUL. LABIOFAM offers limited amounts of
ESCOZUL to patients, mainly because its research requires great
quantities of the blue scorpion venom. Its objectives focus on developing
a research which will guarantee the properties of ESCOZUL, and in
this way help to obtain a patent and eventually develop a trademark.
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