NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In a new study, researchers show, for the first time, that a commercial vaccine using synthetic carbohydrate antigens can be produced on a large scale.
The vaccine, which was directed against Haemophilus influenzae Type b (Hib), appeared to be as safe and immunogenic as the standard Hib vaccine, which uses bacteria-derived polysaccharide, according to the report in the July 23rd issue of Science.
“The present study demonstrates that a synthetic capsular polysaccharide antigen can be produced on a large scale under good manufacturing practice conditions and used to manufacture an effective vaccine for human use,” lead author Dr. V. Verez-Bencomo, from Universidad de la Habana in Cuba, and colleagues note.
The researchers evaluated the safety and efficacy of the new vaccine in clinical trials conducted in Cuba. Immunization with the vaccine produced long-term protective antibody titers.
The results indicate that “access to synthetic complex carbohydrate-based vaccines” is feasible. Although the current vaccine was developed against Hib, the investigators believe that the manufacturing process could be applied to vaccines against other pathogens.
Source: Science 2004;305:522-525. [ Google search on this article ]
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