Chinese scientists construct therapeutic HBV vaccine

Wen Yumei, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said here Thursday that her research team has developed a therapeutic vaccine for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and has begun phase two clinical testing.

Wen said the first period of phase two clinical testing startedat the end of 2003 with 36 subjects involved.

"We have to wait till the end of August for the results, but sofor it shows promising," Wen said at the ongoing 10th International Symposium of the Society of Chinese Bioscientists in America.

Wen, who is also scientific chairperson of Department of Molecular Virology under China's Ministry of Education, said the research on the vaccine started in 1988 and animal testing was completed soon after.

"Phase one clinical testing was completed in 2002, which showedthat the vaccine is very safe," she said.

Wen said her research team will continue the phase two clinic testing in September, which will probably last for one year and cover 200 volunteers.

"But I am not sure when we can start phase three testing or when the vaccine can be put on the market," the expert said, adding that it will probably take a few years for them to complete the study.

Hepatitis B is one of the most infectious diseases in China. In2003, China reported 710,000 Hepatitis B cases, accounting for 28 percent of the total number of reported infectious diseases in China.

In recent years, Chinese scientists have been speeding up research on the vaccine's development. Wen said with more advanced vaccines being used and popularized, the incidence of HBV and its prevalence rate are expected to drop gradually in China.

Source: Xinhua