May 15, 2026 — Belly of he Beast
From the development of five COVID-19 vaccines to the world’s first meningitis B vaccine and an innovative lung cancer treatment, Cuba’s biotech industry has long punched above its weight. But no achievement may be as significant as NeuroEPO, a non-invasive nasal drop that has been shown to stabilize the progression of Alzheimer’s and to even improve cognitive function in many patients. Crucially, the medication, commercially known as NeuralCIM, has produced significantly fewer side effects in clinical trials than leading FDA-approved Alzheimer’s drugs.
“Making this drug available to the rest of the world is a mandate. It’s not a wish,” Dr. Bill Blanchet, a physician from Colorado who has more than 50 patients taking the medication, told Belly of the Beast in an exclusive interview.
A Daughter’s Love Sparks a Scientific Breakthrough
The scientist behind NeuroEpo is Dr. Teresita Rodríguez.
Teresita’s journey began when her mother, Amelia, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Determined to help her, Teresita joined her colleagues at Cuba’s Center for Molecular Immunology (CIM) who were working on a medication for neurodegenerative diseases.
When Teresita realized the experimental drug could be effective in treating Alzheimer’s, she started administering it to Amelia. The results Teresita witnessed were striking and would lay the foundation for what many believe could become a game changer for Alzheimer’s treatment around the world.
Belly of the Beast’s latest documentary, Teresita’s Dream, tells the story of the personal quest behind one of Cuba’s most extraordinary scientific achievements.
The film is available now to our Patreon subscribers.
Join our Patreon to watch the documentary, gain early access to our content and support grassroots journalism in Cuba.
Innovation Under a Blockade
NeuroEPO was developed amid an intensifying economic war waged by the U.S. government.
Cuba’s biotechnology sector depends on highly specialized imported reagents, machinery and replacement parts, many of which are barred from export to the island by sanctions. But Washington’s Cold War-era policy toward Cuba doesn’t only obstruct the development and production of Cuban medicines. It also severely restricts their ability to reach patients abroad, particularly in the United States.
“It would be very unfair if this product couldn’t reach other parts of the world,” Teresita says in Teresita’s Dream. “It’s frustrating to think this could happen because of politics.”
