CIMAvax Success Rate: What Do the Studies Say?

Two people with the same disease can have very different courses. That is why the effect of a treatment is shown by studies that compare patients who received the vaccine with patients who did not, under the same conditions.

Below we summarise what these studies found for CIMAvax-EGF and Vaxira. All the figures come from papers published in international peer-reviewed journals.

CIMAvax-EGF and Vaxira (racotumomab) are therapeutic cancer vaccines developed at the Center of Molecular Immunology (CIM) in Havana. In Cuba they are licensed for advanced (stage IIIB/IV) non-small cell lung cancer, as maintenance treatment after first-line chemotherapy or radiotherapy. CIMAvax-EGF has been licensed in Cuba since 12 June 2008 and Vaxira since 7 January 2013; Vaxira is also licensed in Argentina.

These vaccines are used in patients who have been diagnosed with cancer: they activate the immune system against the tumour and aim to keep the disease under control for longer after first-line treatment. CIMAvax-EGF aims to lower the EGF signal that feeds tumour growth; Vaxira builds an immune response against NeuGcGM3, a structure on tumour cells. CIMAher (nimotuzumab), from the same centre, is an antibody treatment given by infusion.

A later review reported, in long-term follow-up, two-year survival of 37% against 20% and five-year survival of 23% against 0% in vaccinated patients compared with the comparison group.

A randomised, placebo-controlled phase II/III trial of Vaxira, published in Clinical Cancer Research in 2014, included 176 patients. Median survival was 8.23 months in the vaccine group and 6.80 months with placebo; progression-free survival was measured at 5.33 against 3.90 months.

In a later phase III trial, Vaxira was compared with a standard chemotherapy as maintenance treatment, and the researchers reported that the vaccine did not fall behind the chemotherapy. Being given by injection, with mostly mild side effects, makes long maintenance treatment easier for patients.

The oncologist who reviews your file assesses whether the vaccine suits you and how much benefit you may expect. We prepare your file, translate it and send it to the licensed oncologist in Cuba. The opinion reaches you in writing, and we are with you at every step.

If you are wondering about cost, see Cuba lung cancer vaccine cost; for access from outside Cuba, see CIMAvax-EGF from the USA, Canada and abroad. The whole process is laid out in the treatment journey, step by step. When you are ready, you can fill in the application form.