Soberana 02

Soberana 02 is a COVID-19 vaccine candidate developed by the Finlay Institute in Cuba. It is one of the few vaccines in the world that is not produced by a pharmaceutical company but by a state-run institute. The name "Soberana" translates to "sovereign" in English, reflecting Cuba's aim for medical sovereignty.

Development

The development of Soberana 02 started in March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic began to spread globally. The Finlay Institute, which has a long history of vaccine development, took the lead in the project. The vaccine is based on the protein subunit technology, which uses a harmless piece of the virus to trigger an immune response.

Clinical Trials

Soberana 02 entered Phase I and Phase II trials in August and December 2020, respectively. The results showed that the vaccine was safe and produced a strong immune response. In March 2021, the vaccine entered Phase III trials, the final stage before approval. The trial involved 44,000 volunteers in Cuba and several thousand more in other countries, including Iran.

Efficacy

Preliminary results from the Phase III trials showed that Soberana 02 has an efficacy rate of 62% after two doses. This makes it one of the most effective vaccines developed by a non-pharmaceutical company. The vaccine's efficacy increases to 92% when a third dose of another Cuban vaccine, Soberana Plus, is added.

Distribution

As of June 2021, Soberana 02 is being used in Cuba's national vaccination campaign. The country plans to vaccinate its entire population by the end of the year. The vaccine is also being exported to other countries, including Iran, Venezuela, and Vietnam.

See Also

• COVID-19 pandemic in Cuba
• COVID-19 vaccine
• Finlay Institute