FORTY years ago Dr. Carlos Miyares Cao observed that following birth, the placenta retains a significant amount of proteins, vitamins and minerals contributed by the mother’s blood during pregnancy to supply the nutritional requirements of the fetus.

Totally immersed in the study of the metabolism of placentas maintained alive in laboratory conditions, the eminent Cuban scientist soon discovered the existence of a substance that increased skin pigmentation.

With the valuable collaboration of Dr. Manuel Taboas, an eminent dermatology specialist at the Calixto García Hospital, clinical trials were organized and led to the development of a new medicine found in the human placenta for the treatment of vitiligo, registered as a drug under the name of Melagenina in 1980.

That product placed Cuba on an outstanding international level in the fight against this progressive skin disease (between 1% and 2% of the world population suffers from it). It is characterized by the appearance of whitened patches with more pigmented or normal color borders, basically localized on the face, extremities, joints and the genital area.

Due to the international response to the innovative Cuban method, the Placental Histotherapy Center was founded in 1986, with the aim of extending the research.

As Dr. Ernesto Miyares Díaz, assistant director of Medical Services of the institute in Havana’s Playa municipality, explained to Granma, the experience accumulated over more than 20 years in treating national and foreign patients has confirmed the effectiveness of treating vitiligo with the so-called Melagenina Plus, an improved version of the initial product containing a 50% alcohol extract of human placenta with the addition of calcium chloride.

"With that lotion we have cured 86% of the cases treated. It has the benefit of acting rapidly to stimulate melanocyte reproduction, can be used for long periods even on children and pregnant women, has no side effects, and avoids having to be exposed to sunlight, ultraviolet or infrared rays in order for it to be effective".

People with a 40% loss of skin pigmentation should apply the medication daily for about two years, while those with a more severe condition should do so for five or more years. For this reason much discipline and perseverance on the part of patients is essential, the specialist emphasized.

He mentioned that due to parental interest, children tend to respond well to this pharmaceutical.

One of the main research lines at the Placental Histotherapy Center is the search for and development of new medicines and cosmetics, the improvement of therapies established for Vitiligo, Psoriasis and Alopecia, and a greater understanding of the origin of those disorders.

Fruit of the creative talent focused on those objectives, today the institution has a range of products derived from placental tissue, such as Coriodermina for the treatment of Psoriasis, with promising results; Piloactiva lotion for the regeneration of hair growth, and Placenta Shampoo, prescribed for Seborrhoeic dermatitis and alopecia.

The list also includes effective sun screens, facial creams, bioactive soap, and the diet supplement Biopla, rich in proteins, amino acids and minerals extracted from the placenta, recommended in cases of poor digestive absorption, some kinds of anemia, osteoporosis and other ailments.

Dr. Ernesto Miyares added that the research collective is working to find a chemical version of melagenina, with the aim of guaranteeing larger production volumes and reducing the number of steps in the productive process.

"We have had availability problems with Melagenina Plus, and the other lines mentioned because, apart from the reduced birthrate in recent years, it is not always possible to collect placentas due to difficulties with the means of transportation. At other times the distribution system fails and this leads to the national network of pharmacies not being guaranteed supplies."

At the same time, the Placenta Derivatives Plant is going through a process of upgrading its technological equipment, a factor that will limit large scale production for some time. This explains, for example, why sun screens are only available by prescription for patients with skin conditions, he commented.