Chinese scientists have made another breakthrough in the creation
of a SARS vaccine, as antibodies against the virus have been
discovered in monkeys after they had been injected with inactive
versions of the vaccine.
But more time is still needed before scientists can conduct testing
of the inactivated vaccine on humans and subsequently put it into
clinical use.
"We have made breakthroughs in testing animals with inactivated
vaccine and antibodies have been found after their inoculation,"
explained Huang Peitang, deputy head of the Key Science and
Technology Group under the National Task Force for SARS Control and
Prevention at a press conference Wednesday.
Dozens of scientists in two project groups are working
around-the-clock testing animals with the inactivated vaccine.
Antibodies have since been uncovered in 35 monkeys.
Vice-minister of science and technology Li Xueyong said inactivated
vaccine research is relatively easy, and further work on
deactivated vaccines and genetic study-based vaccines have already
been integrated as part of China's middle and long-term basic
research plans.
As
for vaccine research based on genetic technology, the China
National Biological Products Corporation (CNBPC), the country's
largest bio-tech company, plans to spend 500 million yuan (US$60.46
million) developing vaccines against SARS.
The first 50 million yuan (US$6 million) has been invested in the
early stage of the project, according to CNBPC General Manager Wang
Guoli.
The money will be spent in improving and rebuilding labs and
production facilities for SARS vaccines, flu vaccines, blood
treatments and other biological products, Wang said.
The company is carrying out three SARS-related research projects
and has invested another 10 million yuan (US$1.2 million) in
developing SARS detection methods, blood serums against the virus
and relevant vaccines.
At
yesterday's press conference organized by the State Council
Information Office, Li Xueyong said China's success in fighting
against SARS has partly relied on international co-operation. He
noted that it took only three months to map out the genetic
sequence of the SARS virus due to the joint efforts made by
scientists from a host of different countries.
"We must strengthen co-operation with international partners to
battle diseases and that's an important lesson we've drawn from
this two-month struggle," said Li.
International co-operation would continue to be important for
future vaccines and genetic research, Li stressed. He added that
each country provides different strengths in SARS treatment, which
are mutually complementary.
(China Daily June 26, 2003)