HAVANA: The New York government and business delegation to Cuba hoped to pressure the U.S. Congress to end its blockade on Cuba. The Cuban Immunology Center and the Roswell Park Cancer Institute of New York signed an agreement for the U.S. to import a therapeutic vaccine against lung cancer developed by Cuba. “Signing this agreement means we can immerse ourselves in clinical trials when we return to New York,” said Candance Johnson, director of the U.S.-based Roswell Park institute.
The agreement was signed as part of a business delegation visit to Cuba headed by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. “We are very excited to be able to bring the vaccine to the U.S. and to treat patients,” Candance said. Cuba created the vaccine in 2011 after 15 years of research. Brazil, Argentina and Colombia are currently applying to have access to the vaccine, while the U.K and Australia have already carried out their own clinical trials.
The business delegation also saw an agreement between New York company Infor, and a Cuban organization. “We are surprised by the level and experience that there is in Cuba in health and technology,” company representative Charles Phillips stated. Cuomo and Cuban First Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel also talked about relations betwen Cuba and the U.S. “Through a complete relationship we can have dialogue where we can discuss any isuse and reach an agreement,” Cuomo said. The visit by the governor and businesses represented the first state-based visit to Cuba after dialogue began between the two countries to normalize relations.
