Cuban scorpions help fight cancer

Cuban research on the scorpion's venom began at the end of 1980s in Guantanamo province, the island's eastern tip, where a group of biologists and doctors became interested in the stories told by the peasants about the venom's benefits.

The first revelation was made by Cuban biologist Misael Bordier, one of the first researchers. In 2001, Bordier visited Mexico's National Autonomous University (UNAM) and presented the research progress in a professional journal.

Bordier died in 2005, one year before Cuba's Industrial Property Office granted Labiofam the rights to exploit the patent related to "Rophalorus junceus" venom.

Since then, Labiofam, a state-owned laboratory, has led the research, which also includes the participation of Cuba's Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, the "Pedro Kouri" Institute of Tropical Medicine and University of Havana.