2005 Health Award Laureate
Hib Vaccine Team
| Laureate Country: Cuba and Canada |
| Project Country: Cuba |
| Video: 2005Videos/HIB_Vaccine_Team.mov |
Project Overview:
In an attempt to create alternatives for the production of conjugate vaccine against Haemophilus influenzae type b, the Hib Vaccine Team developed the first vaccine containing an antigen produced by chemical synthesis. The members of the Hib Vaccine Team are Dr. Vicente Verez-Bencomo and Dr. Violeta Fernandez Santana from University of Havana, Professor René Roy from the University of Quebec in Montreal, Dr. Eugenio Hardy from the Center for genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, and Dr. Maria Eugenia Toledo from the Institute for Tropical Medicine Pedro Kouri.
Problem Addressed:
Haemophilus influenzae type b is a pathogen that kills more than 500,000 infants every year. In the nineties, the introduction of the conjugate vaccine in industrialized countries was very successful, dramatically reducing the incidence of bacterial meningitis and pneumonia. The introduction of this vaccine in poor countries is very slow due to its high cost and limited availability.
Technology Solution:
The conjugate vaccine incorporating a synthetic bacterial carbohydrate antigen was demonstrated to be as safe and immunogenic in humans as the already licensed vaccine incorporating the native polysaccharide. Access to synthetic complex carbohydrate-based vaccines therefore provides an alternative in the fight against Haemophilus influenzae type b infections. It also sets a strong basis for further development of similar approaches against other human pathogens. The vaccine is fully introduced for Cuban infant population and is in the process of introduction in many other countries.
