China has developed the world's first oral vaccine for a bacterium closely linked to gastric cancer, the Ministry of Science and Technology announced here Thursday. 

 

The vaccine is designed to prevent the infection of helicobacter pylori (Hp), a bacterium that inhabits parts of the stomach and is believed to be strongly linked to the development of duodenal and gastric ulcers and even stomach cancer. 

 

It is the world's first Hp vaccine that has finished large-scale Phase III clinical trial and been ratified as a new medicine, according to the ministry. 

 

It has been graded "first-grade new medicine" by the State Food and Drug Administration, China's drug watchdog. 

 

The vaccine was developed by a research team from Chongqing-based Third Military Medical University headed by professor Zou Quanming after 15 years of efforts, the university president Wang Denggao said at the press conference. 

 

During the research process, the vaccine secured eight national patents and it now has full independent intellectual property rights, said Wang. 

 

Clinical research has proven that the vaccine has a protection rate of more than 72.1 percent against Hp bacterium, he said. 

 

The ministry said researchers and investors would beef up cooperation to realize the vaccine's commercialization at an early date. 

 

China now has 600 million people infected with Hp and some 200,000 die from stomach cancer every year, according to official figures.

 

 

 

(Source: Xinhua)

2009-04-24