[NYTr] Cuba Promotes Therapeutic Use of Scorpion Venom

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

[Two items on scorpion venom as a useful treatment for cancer patients.
The record of blue scorpion venom is a bit mixed. At one point several
years ago, the Cubans said that the benefits were unproven, but they
have apparently continued the research.  The 2nd of two articles below
(Nov 22, 2007) has an odd figure of "110 millimeters" of venom produced,
which probably should be milliliters or liters. -NY Transfer]

Agencia Cubana de Noticias (ACN)
http://ainch.ain.cu/mailman/listinfo/ingles


Cuba Promotes Therapeutic Use of Scorpion Venom

Havana, Nov 28 (acn) The achievements of Cuba in the therapeutic use of 
scorpion venom will be presented at a national workshop taking place in 
the province of Cienfuegos on the breeding, management and exploitation 
of scorpions.

In statements to Juventud Rebelde newspaper, the provincial head of the 
national network of Biological-Pharmaceutical Labs (LABIOFAM), Fabio 
Linares, spoke about the importance of the meeting. He said that, 
during the encounter, Cuban specialists will present studies explaining 
how the scorpion venom is used to fight cancer cells, as shown in 
several tests carried out on lab animals and human beings.

Linares noted that the research takes into account environmental 
sustainability, which involves the non overexploitation of areas with 
large numbers of scorpions and the return of the scorpions to their 
natural environment after a long period of exploitation.

The Cuban specialist said that the Cienfuegos School of Medicine has a 
blue scorpion farm which should produce some 5,000 specimens in the 
coming months.

Besides its benefits in the fight against cancer, the scorpion venom 
has proven useful in the treatment of several diseases that affect the 
lungs, prostate, pancreas and uterus neck. It also has analgesic and 
anti-inflammatory properties.

                           ***

Cuba Increases Production of Cancer-Fighting Scorpion Venom

Las Tunas, Nov 22 (acn) Approximately 110 millimeters of scorpion 
toxin, highly effective in the treatment of cancer, have been obtained 
every month since August in the eastern Cuban province of Las Tunas.

At present, technicians at an area scorpion farm are able to milk venom 
from some 800 scorpions using electrodes. This technique is applied in 
other Cuban cities, such as Guantanamo, and there are scorpion farms 
run by the Pharmaceutical and Biological Laboratories (LABIOFAM) in 
each of the island's provinces.

The anti-cancer properties of the medicine obtained from the venom have 
been successfully tested in Cuba after several years of research.

The product has proven itself harmless to the human body and highly 
successful in the treatment of tumors and illnesses related to the 
central nervous system.

Likewise, this product has analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, 
and has been successfully administered to patients suffering from lung, 
uterus, prostate and pancreas ailments.

Cuba relies on technology to facilitate the reproduction of scorpions 
in captivity, which is essential for increasing production and thus 
meeting domestic demand, as it will be for supplying the anticipated 
foreign demand once the product is patented.