China has developed the world's first oral vaccine for bacteria that are closely linked to gastric cancer, the Ministry of Science and Technology said yesterday.

The vaccine is designed to prevent infection by Helicobacter pylori, bacteria that inhabit parts of the stomach and are believed to be strongly linked to the development of duodenal and gastric ulcers and even stomach cancer.

The ministry said the drug is the world's first Hp vaccine to finish large-scale phase-three clinical trials and become ratified as a new medicine.

The vaccine has been classified as a "first-grade new medicine" by the State Food and Drug Administration, China's drug watchdog.

It was developed by a research team from the Chongqing-based Third Military Medical University headed by professor Zou Quanming after 15 years of effort, the university's president, Wang Denggao, told a news conference.

During the research process, the vaccine secured eight national patents and now has full independent intellectual property rights, Wang said.

Clinical research showed that the vaccine has a protection rate of more than 72.1 percent against Hp bacteria, he said.

The ministry said researchers and investors would increase cooperation to commercialize the vaccine at an early date. China now has 600 million people infected by Hp, and some 200,000 die from stomach cancer every year.

(Xinhua News Agency April 24, 2009)