Cuban drug for diabetic foot available in 20 countries

Cuba's biotech drug Heberprot-P for treating complex diabetic foot ulcers has successfully reached the markets of 20 countries, local media reported Wednesday. The news website CubaSias quoted Dr. Luis Herrera, director of the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (IGBC), as saying Heberprot-P met sanitary regulations in Ecuador, Belarus, Argentina, Brazil, Russia, Venezuela and Ukraine, among other nations. The drug, containing epidermal growth factor, has been used to treat 28,000 Cubans suffering from diabetic foot ulcers since putting into use in 2007, reducing the need for amputations by some 78 percent, Herrera said. "A truly unique result." Globally, more than 145,000 patients have used it for treatment, Herrera added. Many countries, including China, have been conducting advanced stage-three tests of the drug. He said the Heberprot-P therapy, applied in the form of injections, has revolutionized the treatment for diabetes and disruptions of the body's natural self-repair mechanism which often lead to amputations of the lower limbs. Cuba is one of the world leaders biotech drug research and development.