Russian scientists develop new TB, AIDS, other vaccines

Russian scientists accomplish the development of fundamentally new TB, brucellosis, typhoid, dysentery, AIDS and other vaccines, academician Viktor Kabanov said at the session of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences on Tuesday.

"Synthetic vaccines have fundamental difference from ordinary ones using weakened pathogens. Synthetic vaccines are based on a special polymer, Polyoxidonium, selected by Russian specialists. It reinforces immunity of the organism. If an antigen of this or that pathogen is chemically connected to this polymer it will turn not into a simple adjuvant but a vaccine to prevent this disease," the scientist said. "This is especially valuable in the case of AIDS in order not to administrate pathogens of this dangerous disease into human organism," Kabanov stressed.

"The first unique synthetic vaccine was developed by Russian scientists and has been successfully used for seven years already. This is Grippol vaccinated to 50 million people," academician Kabanov said.

"If common vaccines has a 60-percent effect, synthetic Grippol protects 90 percent of vaccinated people," said academician Rem Petrov, a creator of the new vaccines. Other vaccines tested on animals protect them even from fatal doses of relevant bacteria and viruses, Viktor Kabanov noted.

Russian scientists surpass their foreign colleagues in this sphere. Polyoxidonium is patented in many European countries and the USA, academician Petrov said. According to him, 10-15 years are needed to find another synthetic bio-polymer suitable for vaccines and to put it into practice.

Creators of the new generation of vaccines were awarded with the Russian State Prize in 2002.