6 Indest-2008-3By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

A lung cancer vaccine that was developed in Havana, Cuba, will be the first such clinical trial to be approved by The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for testing in the United States.  October 26, 2016, the approval was announced by New York’s Governor Andrew Cuomo alongside officials at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo.  The trial could start as soon as November 2016 and will enroll 60 to 90 patients. They are estimating that it will take around three years to complete.

A Research Partnership.

Governor Cuomo praised the fact that the FDA’s action followed the promotion of a research partnership between Roswell and Cuba’s Center of Molecular Immunology (CIM) that occurred during a New York state trade mission in 2015.

This lung cancer trial will test the CIMAvax-EGF vaccine, combined with an immunotherpay drug called Opdivo. Opdivo has already been approved in the U.S. Click here to visit the Roswell Park Cancer Institute website and learn more about the CIMAvax-EGF vaccine.

 The Leading Cause of Cancer Deaths Is Lung Cancer.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. There is a five year survival rate of only 17 percent of those who fall ill with lung cancer.  According to Grace Dy, the principal investigator in the Roswell Park trail, “We’re at an early stage in the development of this vaccine, which has never before been given to U.S. patients, so we have a lot to learn through this study, But the evidence so far is encouraging.”

The vaccine developed by CIM has been approved by a number of countries such as Paraguay and Peru.  Even though the vaccine has been approved by several countries already, Len Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer as the American Cancer Society, has taken a cautious stance on the matter.

Litchenfeld stated, “currently we do not have the information we need to have to know whether or not this vaccine could be useful in treating lung cancer or possibly be used to prevent cancer in patients at high risks of developing lung cancer. The studies that have been reported from Cuba are small and have limitations that prevent us from knowing how the treatment could be applied to the typical patient with lung cancer.”

Currently, the United States and Cuba are working collaboratively to make certain that this vaccine will be as effectively as possible and help those suffering from lung cancer.

Contact Experienced Health Law Attorneys.

The Health Law Firm routinely represents pharmacists, pharmacies, physicians, nurses and other health providers in investigations, regulatory matters, licensing issues, litigation, inspections and audits involving the DEA, Department of Health (DOH) and other law enforcement agencies. Its attorneys include those who are board certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law as well as licensed health professionals who are also attorneys.

To contact The Health Law Firm, please call (407) 331-6620 or (850) 439-1001 and visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.

Sources:
“CHIPSA Looks Into Cuban Lung Cancer Vaccine United States Is Studying.” CHIPSA Hospital. (2016). Web.

Lee, Kelvin. “Where Does CIMAvax Currently Stand?” Roswell Park Cancer Institute. (March 28, 2016). Web.

McGinely, Laurie. “In A First, U.S. Trial To Test Cuban Lung Cancer Vaccine.” The Washington Post. (October 27, 2016). Web.

About the Author: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law is an attorney with The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida, area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com  The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Avenue, Altamonte Springs, Florida 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.

KeyWords: Legal representation for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigations, FDA investigation fraud defense attorney, legal counsel for clinical research, clinical research defense attorney, reviews of The Health Law Firm, The Health Law Firm reviews, misconduct in science legal defense, clinical investigator defense attorney, institutional review board (IRB) investigation defense, legal representation for health care professionals, Department of Health (DOH) investigation defense attorney, scientific investigation attorney, legal counsel for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigations, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigations defense attorney, The Health Law Firm, clinical investigation misconduct defense counsel, National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant fraud defense attorney, Office of Research Integrity (ORI) defense attorney

“The Health Law Firm” is a registered fictitious business name of and a registered service mark of The Health Law Firm, P.A., a Florida professional service corporation, since 1999.
Copyright © 2016 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.