China is seeking volunteers to participate in its second clinic
trial of a new AIDS vaccine early next year, a leading Chinese
scientist said recently.
The center is looking for men and women to participate in the
trials which will take place in Beijing, said Shao Yiming, chief
expert for the National Center for AIDS/STD Control and
Prevention.
He revealed the plan at a conference on Sino-U.S. AIDS vaccine
research and development held on Sunday without indicating how many
participants will be involved in the trial.
The vaccine was approved for clinical trials by Chinese drug
authorities in November. Trials on Rhesus Monkeys indicates that
the vaccine is safe and effective in preventing HIV infections,
Shao said.
In March of 2005 China began its first human clinical trials on
an AIDS vaccine in southwestern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
The volunteers, 33 men and 16 women aged from 18 to 50, have been
vaccinated and none have had adverse side effects.
According to a recent report, there are 120 clinical trials of
AIDS vaccines being conducted on humans throughout the world.
The Ministry of Health said that by the end of this October, a
total of 183,733 people had been officially reported to have
contracted HIV, 39,644 more than at the end of 2005.
(Xinhua News Agency December 20, 2006)