Havana, October 14 (RHC)-- Phase II of the clinical trial of the Cuban allergy vaccine Prolinem-DS for the treatment of asthmatic patients will begin shortly, according to Dr. Raúl Lázaro Castro Almarales, a 2nd degree specialist in allergy.

He stressed that this new generation antigen is already patented in several countries.

Developed jointly by the National Center of Bioproducts (BIOCEN) and the Finlay Institute, Prolinem-DS reduces significantly the number of shots administered to asthmatic patients in a two-weeks period.

The specialist stressed that when using Valergen vaccine, also developed by BIOCEN, patients are administered 23 injections in a two-week period. When using Prolinem-DS, the patient gets fewer shots --only six over the same period.

He also said that for this new study, to be carried out at the Havana hospitals Calixto García and Hermanos Ameijeiras, 60 asthmatic patients, between the ages of 18 and 50 are needed.

Cuba’s Valergen subcutaneous vaccine was registered on the island in 2005, while the sublingual immunotherapy was registered in 2008 –both are part of the basic table of medicines. Allergists administer them to both children and adults patients in primary healthcare.

For its high incidence, asthma constitutes a health problem in Cuba and around the world.