Vaccine against human hepatitis B
E. B. Buynak, R. R. Roehm, A. A. Tytell, A. U. Bertland 2nd, G. P. Lampson and M. R. Hilleman
A highly purified and inactivated vaccine was made of hepatitis B virus
surface antigen. The vaccine was tested exhaustively for safety by ordinary
procedures and additionally in chimpanzees and marmosets. It was highly
potent and induced antibody in guinea pigs, grivet monkeys, and chimpanzees
after three doses of vaccine were given subcutaneously. Chimpanzees given
three doses of vaccine were protected against challenge with 1,000
chimpanzee-infectious doses of live human hepatitis B virus given
intravenously in controlled studies. Tests of the vaccine for control of
hepatitis B in man are to be carried out.
