Crossing Continents

Cuba's Cancer Revolution


Listen Later

Lung cancer is America's biggest cancer killer. But there is hope: the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has sanctioned trials of CimaVax - a treatment created in Cuba that has extended the lives of hundreds of patients on the island. This is the first time a Cuban drug has been tested in the US.

American cancer patients got wind of CimaVax five years ago. Patients like Judy Ingels - an American with a stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis - arrive regularly in Havana, hoping for a miracle. It's traffic that's increased since the US / Cuba thaw.

The creation of Cuba's biotech industry was Fidel Castro's idea back in the 1980s. Today it employs 22,000 people, and sells drugs all over the world - excluding the US. When Presidents Obama and Castro made their momentous move to end hostilities, doctors and patients on both sides of the Florida Straits hoped everyone might benefit from an exchange of life-saving treatments. Now there's deep anxiety. Will President Trump re-freeze the thaw, and jeopardise a revolutionary collaboration?

For Crossing Continents, Linda Pressly explores Cuba's bio-tech industry. How has this small Caribbean nation been able to develop world-class drugs with its limited resources?

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Crossing ContinentsBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

75 ratings


More shows like Crossing Continents

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,718 Listeners

From Our Own Correspondent by BBC Radio 4

From Our Own Correspondent

378 Listeners

More or Less by BBC Radio 4

More or Less

891 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,066 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,474 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,809 Listeners

Witness History by BBC World Service

Witness History

969 Listeners

The History Hour by BBC World Service

The History Hour

591 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,784 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,043 Listeners

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4 by BBC Radio 4

Friday Night Comedy from BBC Radio 4

2,119 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

2,078 Listeners

Great Lives by BBC Radio 4

Great Lives

477 Listeners

Profile by BBC Radio 4

Profile

107 Listeners

Last Word by BBC Radio 4

Last Word

46 Listeners

File on 4 Investigates by BBC Radio 4

File on 4 Investigates

41 Listeners

BBC Inside Science by BBC Radio 4

BBC Inside Science

406 Listeners

The Inquiry by BBC World Service

The Inquiry

736 Listeners

The Life Scientific by BBC Radio 4

The Life Scientific

233 Listeners

Start the Week by BBC Radio 4

Start the Week

161 Listeners

The Briefing Room by BBC Radio 4

The Briefing Room

74 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,223 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

737 Listeners

The Bomb by BBC World Service

The Bomb

1,042 Listeners