China becoming a strong nation in developing biomedicine
Chinanews, Beijing, Oct. 23 ¨C According to information from the Ministry of Science and Technology, nearly 30 kinds of biomedicines developed by China have been put to clinical use. About 170 kinds of biomedicines are at the stage of clinical research. China can produce eight of the ten major biomedicines in the world. China¡¯s SARS and bird flu vaccines are among the best in the world. All this shows that China is becoming a strong nation in developing biomedicines.
Wang Hongguang, director of the China Biotechnology Development Center, says that China has already finished technology accumulation in biotechnological field. At present, China is able to develop and industrialize biotechnology at the same time. This is shown in the following aspects:
First, China is the world¡¯s largest producer and user of vaccines. By applying human vaccines, China has eradicated or curbed the spread of major contagious diseases such as malaria, plague and poliomyelitis, making great contributions in increasing people¡¯s life expectancy. In China, people¡¯s average life expectancy has increased from 37 in 1949 to the present 73, and the use of vaccines has played a very important role in this aspect.
Secondly, the use of hepatitis B vaccine has prevented 20 million new-born babies from contracting the disease, and saved 700 billion yuan of medical cost for the country. The research of hepatitis B vaccine, an effectual remedy for the disease, has entered into the second stage for clinical use. Animal tests show that the vaccine can kill the virus inside animal body, and it might help change the virus condition of humans from positive to negative.
Research of the AIDS virus will soon enter the second stage of trial clinical use. Research of the AIDS vaccine which has a curable effect on the disease is also being conducted, and will be put to trial use.
China is also the world¡¯s largest antibiotics and vitamins producer. The use of antibiotics such as penicillin has played an important role in preventing infectious diseases, and the use of vitamins in improving the health of its people.
The bird flu vaccine will soon enter the second stage of trial research.