Cuban Drug Jusvinza Effectively Treats Chikungunya Pain

Cuban health authorities have initiated a clinical trial for the drug Jusvinza to treat residual polyarthritis in patients recovering from the Chikungunya virus. The trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the medication in reducing persistent joint pain and inflammation, which are common long-term sequelae that can significantly diminish a patient’s quality of life months after the acute phase of the infection has passed.

The research was greenlighted by the Health Innovation Committee and the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP). The trial is being conducted across four hospitals located in the provinces of Havana and Matanzas, areas that have experienced a significant increase in virus cases.

Trial Design and Methodology

The clinical trial began on December 1, 2025, at the Comandante Faustino Pérez Provincial Clinical Surgical Hospital. Led by Dr. Yudisay Reyes Pelier, a specialist in oncology and a member of the Clinical Research Group at the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), the study focuses on patients with a confirmed diagnosis of Chikungunya and joint symptoms that have persisted for more than three months.

The study includes 120 participants between the ages of 19 and 80. These participants have been divided into two distinct groups to measure the drug’s efficacy:

• An intervention group of 60 people receiving Jusvinza in combination with conventional treatment.
• A control group of 60 people continuing with usual therapy alone.

The treatment protocol for those receiving Jusvinza consists of nine subcutaneous doses administered over a six-week period. Depending on the patient’s residence and clinical status, these doses are provided on either an inpatient or outpatient basis.

Scientific Background of Jusvinza

Jusvinza, known scientifically as peptide CIGB-258, is a synthetic peptide developed by the CIGB that functions as an immunoregulator. While it was initially intended for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, the drug has been utilized in other critical health scenarios.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jusvinza received emergency health registration in Cuba for the treatment of patients with severe cases of the virus. In those instances, the drug demonstrated the ability to modulate the excessive inflammatory response responsible for lung damage.

The drug has proven to be safe and its development responds to the need to offer therapeutic alternatives for chronic inflammatory conditions, with a significantly lower production cost than similar alternatives on the international market.

Dr. Eulogio Pimentel Vázquez, director of the CIGB

Epidemiological Context in Cuba

The launch of this trial occurs during a challenging epidemiological period in Cuba. According to the National Epidemiology Director, Francisco Durán, the country is managing the active circulation of three different viruses: dengue, Oropouche, and Chikungunya.

Chikungunya has emerged as the most impactful of the three. By November 5, 2025, official reports confirmed over 20,000 cases of the virus. The situation has been particularly complex in the provinces of Matanzas, Cienfuegos, and Havana.

While MINSAP has implemented increased vector control and fumigation measures to curb the spread of these arboviruses, some communities have reported that these efforts have been sporadic or insufficient in certain municipalities.

The application of Jusvinza against Chikungunya represents an effort by Cuban biotechnology to explore new therapeutic uses for existing immunoregulators, specifically targeting the convalescent phase of the disease to alleviate the most disabling long-term effects.