China's Tianjin CanSino Biotechnology Inc. to Mass Produce Ebola Vaccine

Tianjin CanSino Biotechnology Inc., a private Chinese biotechnology company, plans to mass produce a vaccine against the Ebola virus developed by Chinese military scientists. The company has started construction of an industry base to produce the vaccine in the Tianjin Economic and Technological Development Area. Investment into the base totals 2 billion yuan (about $317 million) and construction will be complete by September 2018. The base also produces vaccines against other infectious diseases including pneumonia, meningitis and tuberculosis. The annual production is around 200 million vaccines.

Developed by a team of biotech scientists with the Chinese Academy of Military Medical Sciences, the Ebola vaccine is based on the 2014 mutant gene type and in the form of freeze-dried powder, which can remain stable for at least two weeks in temperatures of up to 37 degrees Celsius. Experts suggest that it is suitable for the tropical climate in West African countries, where the deadly epidemic outbreak has killed more than 11,297 people since 2014.

According to the ministry of health of Sierra Leone, one of the three most affected countries along with Liberia and Guinea, the Ebola vaccine has proven to be clinically safe. Since the disease outbreak, China has offered 120 million US dollars of aid and 500 medical staff and experts to affected countries.

Source-IANS