Hepatitis E Vaccine: Time to Let the Cat Out…!

Mohammad Khalid Parvez

Abstract


HEV is an emerging pathogen responsible for an estimated 20.1 million cases of liver infection, worldwide. Notably, in pregnant women hepatitis E results in fulminant liver failure, spontaneous abortions and stillbirths with an overall fatality rate of 20-30%. Therefore, developing a safe and effective hepatitis E vaccine has been an important issue. Of these, while the first safe and efficacious vaccine failed to reach the market, the second approved vaccine Hecolin® is now commercialized in China only. Very recently, Hecolin® has completed an extended follow up in a small phase IV study in South Asia and Africa that further warrants its most awaited universal access and endorsement.

Keywords


HEV; Hepatitis E; Vaccine; HEV239; Hecolin

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