Chapter 168 Development and major discoveries of hepatitis B vaccine
Chinese Medical Research Institute.

In the dean's office.

Sitting on the sofa, Wang Mengde held a brand new, revised version of the "Barefoot Doctor Manual" in his hand and read it carefully.

Compared with the first edition, except for the thickness increasing by about one-tenth, everything else, including the cover and page layout, has not changed much.

The color of the second edition is still the classic dark purple.

"Director, the second edition of the Barefoot Doctors' Manual has been finalized so quickly."

Wang Mengde said with emotion.

It only took a short time, less than a month, and the sample book came out. The country's efficiency is so high.

"Haha, we have to be quick. Now all counties and districts across the country are stepping up the training of batches of barefoot doctors. This is related to the medical security work in rural areas and the people.

This is a political task, and we cannot afford to ignore it.”

Dean Lu said with a smile.

After the first and second batches of barefoot doctors graduated, most rural areas finally had their own doctors after thousands of years.

With batches of students graduating and educated young people from urban areas joining the countryside, they are knowledgeable and cultured and learn faster.

It is estimated that in ten years, there will be at least one million barefoot doctors in rural areas across the country.

Although their medical skills were not professional and their techniques were not solid, they still treated patients by flipping through books.

But compared with the rural population of hundreds of millions, it is barely enough.

By then, the lack of medical care and medicine in rural areas will become history.

After listening to President Lu’s explanation, Wang Mengde was very happy.

In fact, in his heart, barefoot doctors are the most important link in the rural three-level medical system.

Once the three-level rural medical system is established and improved, he can start implementing a plan that he has been planning for a long time.

But it’s not mature yet, so I can’t say it out for the time being.

"By the way, I heard from Vice President Yi that you also helped him add some first aid knowledge to the textbook. Is this content more professional than the one in the Barefoot Doctor's Manual?"

Dean Lu suddenly remembered something and asked.

While revising the "Barefoot Doctor Manual", Vice President Yi, who was in charge of compiling Chinese medicine textbooks at the institute, also brought Wang Mengde in to work on the compilation of the textbooks.

Originally, Vice President Yi was thinking of directly extracting some content from the "Barefoot Doctor's Manual" and putting it into the textbook.

He was persuaded by Wang Mengde.

Then he worked with several textbook writers to rewrite a more professional first aid section based on some typical cases and included it in the textbook.

Vice President Yi was very satisfied with his hard work.

Praise him to everyone you meet.

“Yes, Dean, I think we need to be more professional when it comes to the teaching materials for the School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, because these students are different from barefoot doctors.

In the future, most of them will become the backbone of traditional Chinese medicine, the backbone of various traditional Chinese medicine hospitals, and even teachers in medical schools.

Therefore, we must be careful and attentive when it comes to teaching materials. "

Wang Mengde explained.

Some current domestic textbooks contain very little description of first aid knowledge.

"Yes, I feel relieved if you have this idea. We should have this spirit."

After talking about the "Barefoot Doctor's Handbook", Wang Mengde remembered the purpose of coming here today, and asked:
"Dean, I want to ask, how is the clinical situation of 'Quick-Acting Heart-Saving Pills' going recently?"

He was actually certain in his heart that there must be no problem with the prescription he had developed.

But I still want to know the specific progress.

Several months have passed since he developed it.

As far as he knows, many hospitals are using this drug for clinical trials during this period.

Including him and Pu Lao.

According to the feedback, this is a "miracle drug" for patients with chest pain that combines treatment, relief, and first aid.

Not only is the effect obvious, but there are also many other advantages.

These are easy to carry and convenient to store, which is better than nitroglycerin tablets.

Especially for patients who need to take the drug for a long time, the fact that there is basically no drug resistance makes them very happy.

"Haha, this is not a coincidence. I went to a meeting with my superiors yesterday. At the meeting, my superiors announced the clinical trial data during this period.

Data shows that so far, there are thousands of people participating in clinical trials, including people from all walks of life, age groups, genders, and regions.

The final result was very surprising. After taking the 'Quick-acting Heart-saving Pills', these people all showed different improvements and reliefs, and it also had a miraculous effect in first aid."

Dean Lu said happily.

Yesterday, he was praised by his superiors again at the meeting.

Although all the credit goes to Wang Mengde, what matters in China is the collective.

In name, these are the achievements made by the Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and as the dean, he naturally benefits from them.

"Great, when will the country start mass production?"

Wang Mengde was also very happy.

The result was exactly what he expected.

The formula for the new version of the 'Quick-Acting Heart-Saving Pills' was developed by him based on the prescriptions from his previous life, as well as many ancient prescriptions from ancient medical books, combined with his own learning.

It's an enhanced version.

The efficacy of the medicine is much stronger than that in the previous life.

“Well, the higher authorities have also considered this issue. They plan to end the clinical trials and start large-scale production and marketing in about three months, around the New Year’s Day, if there are no problems.

By the way, not only in China, but also abroad, we are preparing to sell them simultaneously according to the 'Tongfengling' model to earn foreign exchange."

Dean Lu explained.

Now is not like the future. The clinical trials of a drug must go through at least several years of observation, and some may even take more than ten years, before it is allowed to be produced and marketed.

Moreover, unlike Western medicine, this prescription has been verified by many famous Chinese medicine experts, so the probability of problems is even smaller.

"Dean, the reason why Tongfengling can earn a lot of foreign exchange abroad is because it has no competitors. The current treatment for syphilis abroad is basically painkillers.

Taking a large number of painkillers is not only inappropriate, but also has serious side effects and drug resistance. If you take it too many times, it will not work. Therefore, Tongfengling is so popular abroad, and patients are rushing to buy it, and even store it at home as a must-have medicine for the family.

But the Quick-Acting Heart-Saving Pills are different. Nitroglycerin Tablets are its biggest competitor. If you want to earn foreign exchange abroad, I'm afraid it will take some twists and turns."

Wang Mengde gave a preventive measure in advance.

For some foreign medical capital.

Chinese patent medicines made from Chinese herbs are a thorn in the eye.

What's more, we are trying to seize their market.

"Well, our superiors have also taken this into consideration. So, this time, we are going there with a try-it attitude. If it works, that's great. If not, it can be regarded as a summary of experience.

It won’t cost much at all.”

Dean Lu lit a cigarette and spoke softly.

Wang Mengde felt relieved when he heard that the country did not blindly follow previous experience because of its one success.

After chatting for a few more words, Wang Mengde was about to get up and say goodbye, as he still had a lot of things to do.

At this time, Dean Lu asked again: "By the way, Comrade Wang Mengde, this vaccine research team has been established for some time. Have you made any progress in your current research?"

In April and May.

At that time, Wang Mengde developed the world's first measles vaccine.

The state then asked him to work with the Beijing Institute of Biological Products to set up a new group, namely the vaccine research group.

He serves as deputy leader of this group, responsible for guiding and formulating the research direction.

On weekdays, he only went there occasionally.

“Dean, when the vaccine research team was first established, I suggested that the research be divided into two directions.

The first is to continue researching measles vaccines and strive to develop second-generation, third-generation, and even "two-in-one" and "three-in-one" vaccines.

The second is to conduct research on hepatitis B and strive to develop a vaccine for it as soon as possible.”

Wang Mengde briefly talked about the work arrangements of the vaccine research team.

Although the measles vaccine has been successfully developed, some people in the country have been vaccinated and have achieved very good results in preventing measles.

But he didn't stop.

We learned through special departments that many foreign pharmaceutical companies or countries are stepping up their research and development.

At the same time, some countries have also sent people to contact us to prepare to introduce this vaccine.

Now the country seems to have reached an agreement with several friendly countries and will carry out technology transfer in the near future.

Of course, these are not free.

Some transfer fees are required.

As for the simultaneous research on hepatitis B vaccine, it is because at that time, hepatitis B patients and hepatitis B virus carriers in the country accounted for about 8% of the total domestic population.

Although a hepatitis B virus carrier is not necessarily a hepatitis B patient, it is possible that a hepatitis B virus carrier will never develop the disease in his or her lifetime, and not all carriers are highly contagious.

However, the “Hepatitis B Trilogy” – hepatitis B, cirrhosis and liver cancer – is too close to go from a healthy body to a sickly state.

For hepatitis B patients, traditional Chinese medicine currently has no way to cure it.

Not to mention Western medicine.

In fact, people have not yet fully understood the pathogenesis of hepatitis B.

Therefore, the hepatitis B vaccine is like timely rain for people at this time.

"Very good, continued research on measles vaccines will keep us at the forefront of the world.

The research on hepatitis B vaccine is indeed the most urgent need for China at this time, and your choice is right."

Dean Lu thought for a moment and then gave a few words of praise.

He strongly agreed with Wang Mengde's choice to research hepatitis B vaccine.

There are still many infectious diseases in the country that are very harmful, and hepatitis B is one of them.

Moreover, hepatitis B is transmitted through blood and body fluids, and is not restricted by geography or climate.

Especially with the development of Western medicine, injections have become the norm, but in hospitals, especially among barefoot doctors, only three of their needles are recycled.

Improper disinfection can easily make people infected with hepatitis B.

So this is one of the reasons why Wang Mengde chose to study hepatitis B vaccine.

Finally, President Lu instructed:
"Comrade Wang Mengde, although I also hope that you can focus your work on the research institute, you also need to pay attention to the vaccine research team and strive to produce results as soon as possible."

"Dean, don't worry, I will always keep an eye on that place.

Neither side will delay and strive to produce some results in the near future.”

Wang Mengde agreed.

Come out of the dean's office.

He thought that he hadn't been to the vaccine research team for several days, so he decided to go there today when he was not busy.

But because of him, the vaccine research team chose a location not far from the Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Without riding a bicycle, I walked for about ten minutes to reach this slightly shabby place.

After entering the gate and walking straight ahead, you will see a two-story building where the laboratory for hepatitis B vaccine research is located.

At this moment, several people in the laboratory were concentrating on doing experiments.

They moved lightly and carefully, fearing that any mistakes would be made and precious experimental materials would be wasted.

Wang Mengde stood outside through the glass, watched for a while, and then quietly came to an office not far away.

"Team Leader Wang, you are here."

Liu Shuwei, who was sitting at his desk and thinking about the materials in front of him, noticed his arrival and quickly stood up and spoke.

He was the actual trial leader for the hepatitis B vaccine.

Some of the research directions given by Wang Mengde were carried out and tested by him and a group of people.

At first, Liu Shuwei was not convinced.

He used to be a researcher at a foreign research institute. After the liberation, with great ambitions, he resolutely quit his well-paid job and returned to China.

It is one of the facades of Beijing Institute of Biological Products.

Later, after several contacts, I was deeply impressed by Wang Mengde's erudition and versatility.

Every task assigned is carried out perfectly.

"Are there any new developments in the recent experiments?"

Wang Mengde asked casually.

"Team Leader Wang, we have made a great discovery."

Liu Shuwei said excitedly.

Then he handed the materials in his hand to Wang Mengde, and explained a few more words:
"Team Leader Wang, after many experiments, we have discovered an antigen in the serum of hepatitis B patients that is not found in normal people.

According to our speculation, this antigen is most likely related to the hepatitis B virus.

If the guess is correct, then we have made a major discovery, which will play a key role in subsequent research."

"Yeah, let me take a look."

Wang Mengde said with pretended surprise.

In fact, he had anticipated this. After all, he was the one who provided the research direction, and he knew exactly what the final result would be.

But he still picked up the materials and examined them carefully.

After a long while, he slowly said: "Yes, your guess should be correct. This antigen must be related to the hepatitis B virus.

I have a feeling that we have definitely discovered something extraordinary, Lao Liu, I think we need to conduct in-depth research on this antigen."

"Ah."

Liu Shuwei nodded heavily, and then said: "Team Leader Wang, please give this antigen a name."

Wang Mengde is also responsible for naming the antigen.

This will go down in history.

(End of this chapter)