Cuban biotechnology in the confrontation with COVID-19

Abstract

Today, when we barely hear about what was a threat to the existence of the human race: COVID-19; The question arises as to what were the challenges of Cuban biotechnology in the confrontation with COVID-19; Precisely this historical research supported by the personal experiences of different actors linked to the Cuban biotechnology industry will allow us to identify the main challenges faced. In this work, the challenges assumed by Cuban scientists and the achievements of Cuban biotechnology in the period of confrontation with COVID-19 are assessed. As a result, from the personal experiences of professionals in the sector and graduates of higher education as well as the pertinent bibliographic review, it was obtained that the challenges and challenges assumed were teamwork, the integration of Cuban biopharmaceutical companies, the development, production and vaccination of vaccines in record time as well as the shortages of raw materials, the technological and financial problems derived from the economic, commercial and financial blockade of the United States towards Cuba. In addition, Cuban biotechnology in the pandemic period managed to obtain more than 27 projects between vaccines and antigens as well as the immunization of the Cuban population, and international recognition of the vaccines developed.