Safety and Efficacy of a Recombinant Hepatitis E Vaccine

Seroprevalence studies suggest that one third of the world's population has been infected with hepatitis E virus (HEV). Infection, especially during pregnancy, is associated with substantial rates of death and complications. No vaccine or specific therapy has been available for the treatment of HEV infection. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 2000 subjects in Nepal, the administration of three doses of a novel recombinant HEV vaccine had 95.5% efficacy. Seroprevalence studies suggest that one third of the world's population has been infected with hepatitis E virus (HEV). In this trial involving 2000 subjects in Nepal, the administration of three doses of a novel recombinant HEV vaccine had 95.5% efficacy. Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is a major public health problem in many developing countries. 1 Hepatitis E occurs sporadically and in epidemics, causing substantial rates of death and complications, especially in pregnant women. 2 On the basis of seroprevalence, an estimated one third of the world's population has been infected with HEV. 3 In India, the lifetime infection risk is more than 60%, which translates to hundreds of thousands of illnesses annually. 4 Hepatitis E is usually self-limited and typically occurs in locations where laboratory diagnosis is unavailable. 5 Consequently, the true burden of hepatitis E is unknown. Hepatitis E is clinically indistinguishable from . . .