BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Governor Andrew Cuomo's trade mission to Cuba with about 20 CEOs and business representatives from New York will help Roswell Park advance toward a lung cancer vaccine.
Empire State Corp. President Howard Zemsky said Roswell Park Cancer Institute has paid attention to Cuba over the last few years, particularly in the area of immunology.
"They've had some contact over the years, but being there in person and meeting with their ministers and then meeting with the life science centers themselves today, the deal really cemented their relationship and their collaboration," Zemsky said.
Roswell Park Cancer Center Director Dr. Candace Johnson said Cuba's Center for Molecular Immunology has developed a lung cancer vaccine and following an agreement Tuesday, Roswell will set up clinical trials to test the drug. Before that's done, Roswell must submit an Investigational New Drug Application to get the vaccine FDA approved.
"They've agreed to share that information with us, and we will now prepare the IND that will go to the FDA to get approved," Johnson said.
Johnson said the way the vaccine works is unique.
"This is an anti-growth factor vaccine. The growth factor is called EGF, and that's unique. It's not killing the tumor cell directly. It's taking something the tumor needs to grow away, and so it has less toxicity associated with it," Dr. Johnson said.
She said in addition to treating cancer, it could have the ability to prevent cancer.
Johnson said she has no hard timetable on when the clinical trials will begin, but hopes to start in about eight months.