TAIWAN DEVELOPS CELL-BASED AVIAN FLU VACCINE

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 000876 SIPDIS SIPDIS HHS PASS MARK ABDOO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AMED AMGT CASC TBIO SOCI TW SUBJECT: TAIWAN DEVELOPS CELL-BASED AVIAN FLU VACCINE REF: 05 TAIPEI 004764 ¶1. According to local media reports, Taiwan has developed a cell-based vaccine to counter the H5N1 Avian influenza (AI) virus. The government-funded National Health Research Institutes (NHRI) took just one year and NT$40 million (about $1.21 million) to successfully develop the vaccine. ¶2. The cell-based vaccine is derived from dog kidney cells which until now have not been used in any vaccine production. The cell-based technology was chosen over the usual poultry egg-based method in view of a likely shortage of eggs during an AI epidemic. Taiwan Center of Disease Control contacts (TCDC) told AIT that the new vaccines will provide a source of vaccines should an AI epidemic hit the island and will be tested on humans next year. Before that takes place the facilities where the vaccine are to be produced need to be certified by the health authorities. ¶3. According to TCDC contacts, NHRI could produce 7,000 doses a month and plans to increase this tenfold once a pilot plant is built. Taiwan has stockpiled 190,000 doses of human H5N1 vaccines imported from Belgium and Austria. In an effort to increase their preparation against a flu epidemic Taiwan health officials had previously authorized a compulsory license to local drug firms to manufacture Tamiflu (reftel). ¶4. Taiwan has detected less virulent strains of AI in bird droppings last year and in January. A total of 467,000 chickens have been destroyed to date after the H5N2 strain was discovered on chicken farms on Kinmen island. The island, although controlled by Taiwan, is located just offshore mainland China and is vulnerable to transmission of AI from the mainland. ¶5. Comment. This vaccine, if proved safe and effective, could give Taiwan the ability to produce AI vaccines on demand, and not subject it to licensing requirements that apply for producing vaccines developed outside Taiwan. End comment. YOUNG YOUNG