HEALTH
APINYA WIPATAYOTIN
The Thailand Centre of Excellence for Life Sciences (TCELS) will encourage local researchers to develop a low-priced vaccine against cervical cancer.
TCELS president Dr Pornchai Matangkasombut said he would invite agencies such as the Thai Red Cross and the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) to take part in the project.
"We are working as a matchmaker because we are not authorised to do our own research," he said.
"But we can help any agencies which show an interest in the project by offering suggestions and assistance."
Dr Pornchai was speaking after a meeting with Nobel Prize winner Dr Harald Zur Hausen at the BioAsia 2008 Thailand conference, organised by TCELS.
He said women in tropical countries had a higher incidence of cervical cancer than women in Western countries. On average, the disease claims the life of a woman every four hours in Thailand.
Dr Hausen, a German medical scientist, identified the role of the human papilloma virus in the development of cervical cancer, which led to the development of a vaccine. His discovery earned him the Prince Mahidol Award in 2005 and a Nobel Prize for physiology and medicine last month.
But Dr Hausen warned that developing a local vaccine would be fraught with difficulties.
"It's not easy to make the vaccine. India and China have been working on it for at least two years and have made a lot of progress," he said. "Success in this area could lead to a cheaper vaccine than is available at present."
Testing a new vaccine would take at least 30 years. In the meantime, because of the high cost, women should not rush to be vaccinated, he said.
"I do not think vaccination is the best way to prevent the disease.
"The most important thing is to be sexually responsible and avoid catching sexually transmitted diseases."
The BioAsia 2008 conference is aimed at promoting and exchanging information about progress in biotechnology, showcasing products, knowledge and know-how technology for life sciences development.
It opened at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre yesterday and concludes tomorrow. It has attracted about 700 participants from 20 countries.
TCELS is a non-profit organisation that operates under the supervision of the Government and focuses on encouraging research and investment and development of a life sciences industry in Thailand.
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