Ecobreves – CUBA: Blue Scorpion Against Cancer

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

HAVANA, Apr 12 2010 (IPS) - Cuban scientists have isolated three proteins from the poison of the Caribbean's blue scorpion (Rhopalurus junceus), which inhibit malignant cancer cells. The scientists say they are willing to work with other laboratories to expand the research. Results from pre-clinical trials using mice will be presented in September at an international congress convened by the Labiofam entrepreneurial group.

Labiofam director José Fraga Castro told Tierramérica that the compounds, already patented in Cuba, “are being cloned” in the company's labs, which for 10 years have been studying the anti-tumor properties of the toxin of this scorpion species native to Cuba.

Nurseries for scorpion reproduction are in development, but the current total of 5,000 scorpions in the lab is insufficient for the necessary production of the poison. Fraga Castro says it is essential to seek scientific solutions and “if we have to work with other laboratories we are willing to do so.”

Confirmed to attend the Labiofam congress are delegates from Brazil, China, Colombia, Germany, Mexico, Spain and Vietnam.