Flying colors for bird flu vaccine in clinical trial

CHINA today announced phase-two success in its bird flu vaccine clinical trials conducted by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention and a Beijing drug maker, Xinhua News Agency reported.

A third phase will be carried out. Vaccines must pass three phases of clinical trials before they are allowed on the market.

The Chinese-developed vaccine can create "a certain amount of anti-bodies" against the virus and it produces "no serious side effects," said scientists involved in second-phrase clinical trials carried out by the center and Sinovac Biotech, a Beijing-based pharmaceutical company.

The trial also determined the proper dose of the injected vaccine and the suitable method for administration, the report said.

The successful trial means China will be able to develop enough vaccine to combat any bird flu epidemic, the report said, quoting the unnamed person in charge of the trial.

The second phrase of the trial began on September 11, involving 402 volunteers ranging from 18 years of age to 60.

Clinical trials of the vaccine began in 2005. The first phase ended in September 2006. None of the 120 people injected with the vaccine experienced any serious side effects.

Out of the 340 human cases of H5N1 bird flu virus infections worldwide since 2003, 209 have died. In China, a total of 27 cases have been reported; 17 of those victims died.