China AIDS vaccine begins human tests (Xinhua/Agencies) Updated: 2005-05-15 10:47
Chinese scientists administered an experimental AIDS vaccine on Saturday to
some volunteers, the official Xinhua news agency reported.
Chinese Premier Wen
Jiabao and Vice-Premier Wu Yi, who also serves as the health minister,
marked World AIDS Day Monday by meeting with AIDS patients at Beijing's
Ditan Hospital, December 1, 2003. Wen became the first Chinese premier to
shake hands with AIDS patients. China has reported 840,000 HIV/AIDS cases,
among which 80,000 were AIDS patients. Despite the low prevalence
rate nationally, the epidemic spread to 31 provinces of the country.
[Xinhua] | The vaccinations launched the
second phase of clinical testing for AIDS DNA vaccine in southwestern China's
Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
The AIDS vaccine consists of two gene vaccines, one containing DNA of the
AIDS virus and the other carrying poxvirus.
The volunteers will receive the poxvirus vaccine in three months, said Wang
Youchun, director of the cell laboratory under the Institute for the Control of
Drugs and Biological Products.
The AIDS DNA vaccine is aimed at helping the body's antibodies and cells to
form immunity to HIV, the AIDS virus, and the poxvirus vaccine is aimed at
strengthening the immunity, the developers said.
The safety of the two gene vaccines was tested in the first phase of trials.
The second phase is to examine their combined safety, which means vaccinating
volunteers twice with each vaccine, Wang said.
China is estimated to have 840,000 HIV carriers, including 80,000 AIDS
patients.
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