China's AIDS vaccine tests going 'smoothly' (AFP) Updated: 2005-12-12 17:56
China's human trials of an AIDS vaccine were proceeding "smoothly," Xinhua
reported, nine months after the program was launched.
The last batch of 15 Chinese volunteers received the vaccine over the weekend
and reported no side-effects in the crucial first 24 hours, Xinhua news agency
quoted medical officials involved in the trial as saying.
A volunteer
receives a dose of AIDS vaccine in the first clinical test to fight the
disease in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in this March 12,
2005 file photo. [newsphoto] | "The first 24 hours are a vital period for observation," the deputy director
of the Guangxi regional disease prevention and control centre in the nation's
south, Chen Jie, said.
"So far, no volunteers have reported ill reactions. They have entered a
relatively stable period for observation."
The latest inoculations bring to 49 the number of Chinese volunteers to have
received the potential AIDS vaccine since the centre began trials on March 12 in
Nanning, the capital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
"So far the tests have been going on smoothly," Chen said.
With all the 49 volunteers inoculated, the first phase of the three-phase
trials has come to an end.
The initial gathering of clinical data from the
volunteers will be completed in June next year, after which a decision will be
made on whether the centre can go ahead with phase two, Chen said.
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