title: Recombinant hepatitis B triple antigen vaccine: Hepacare.
abstract: Infection with hepatitis B virus is a public health problem throughout the world. Hepatitis B vaccines are now included in national immunization programmes of infants and/or adolescents in 129 countries. Current single antigen vaccines, that are plasma-derived or produced by recombinant DNA technology are highly effective, but between 5-10% or more of healthy immunocompetent subjects do not mount an antihepatitis B surface antibody protective response and others respond poorly (hyporesponders). The inclusion of pre-S1 and -S2 components of hepatitis B surface antigen in addition to the single antigen (triple antigen) in a novel vaccine, Hepacare, Medeva Pharma Plc, Speke, UK, overcomes nonresponsiveness and hyporesponsiveness in a significant number of individuals. The triple antigen is indicated for vaccination of nonresponders (and hyporesponders) to the current single antigen vaccines and for persons who require rapid protection against hepatitis B infection.
authors.affiliation: Academic Centre for Travel Medicine and Vaccines, Royal Free and University College Medical School, University College of London, UK. j.zuckerman@rfc.ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Jane N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Zuckerman
authors.forename: Arie J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Zuckerman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic / Q000276:immunology*; D018909:src Homology Domains / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D014614:Vaccines, Synthetic