West China Hospital Achieves Global First Application of Universal Therapeutic Cell Vaccine Against EBV Infection

On November 21, West China Leshan Hospital of Sichuan University successfully completed the world's first treatment using a universal "cell vaccine therapy against EB virus infection" on a patient with an EB virus infection. The patient was in good condition after treatment, with no significant adverse reactions. The successful implementation of this project represents a major breakthrough in the treatment of EB virus infections.

During the initial treatment, Professor Niu Ting, Director of the Department of Hematology at our hospital, evaluated and diagnosed the patient, engaging in thorough informed consent communication. Associate Chief Physician Liu Zhigang from the Department of Hematology, along with the medical team at Huaxi Licheng Hospital, provided attentive care and efficient cooperation, successfully completing the admission and treatment of the first patient. The patient will continue to complete the treatment course, and the medical team will conduct regular follow-ups and dynamic monitoring to track treatment outcomes and the patient's condition.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a common human herpesvirus that primarily spreads through saliva, and over 95% of adults worldwide have been infected with EBV. EB virus is closely associated with various diseases such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma, lymphoma, and gastric cancer, with approximately 300,000 patients globally suffering from EBV-related tumors. However, there is currently no effective treatment for EBV infection.

As the world’s first therapeutic vaccine regimen targeting EBV infection, it is administered via subcutaneous injection, offering good safety and convenient clinical use. It activates the patient's own immune function, inducing the production of specific cytotoxic T cells against EBV antigens, thereby eliminating EBV-positive tumor cells and virus-infected cells. This technology product has been granted Orphan Drug Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

According to reports, the "Cellular Vaccine Treatment Technology Against EB Virus Infection," as a research achievement of West China's full-chain innovation and transformation system, was developed under the guidance of Wei Yuquan, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and director of the National Key Laboratory of Biomedical Therapy. The project was led by the research team of Yang Hanshuo from the same laboratory. The preliminary clinical study, led by Professor Peng Xingchen of the Biomedical Treatment Department, demonstrated good safety and clinical efficacy. Subsequently, with the support of the Chengdu Minshan Cell Engineering Technology Research Institute, the technology was further developed by Chengdu Zhenyu Biomedical Technology Co., Ltd. Production was completed at the Biological Preparation Scale Manufacturing Center of the National Major Science and Technology Infrastructure for Translational Medicine (Sichuan) at West China Hospital of Sichuan University, ensuring the standardization and safety of the transition from lab to clinic. Eventually, the technology achieved clinical application at West China Lecheng Hospital, fully realizing "West China R&D, West China Transformation, West China Production, and West China Application," representing a deep integration of industry, academia, and research. The development received support from the National Major Special Project for Innovative Drug Development and the "Challenge Leader" project of the Sichuan Provincial Department of Science and Technology.

This achievement fills the gap in targeted treatment for EB virus infection in China, providing treatment options for patients with EB virus infection. This outcome, from research and development, transformation, production to clinical application, fully demonstrates the full-chain innovation capability of Huaxi Medicine in the field of biotherapy. It offers solid support for promoting the development of precision medicine in China, improving the treatment level of EB virus infection-related diseases, and benefiting a wide range of patients. It also injects strong momentum into helping Huaxi Medicine take the lead in entering the world's first-class level and promoting the high-quality development of China's biopharmaceutical industry.

As a core supporting platform for technical mass production, the Biologics Scale-up Preparation Center of the National Major Science and Technology Infrastructure for Translational Medicine (Sichuan) at our institute is a cell preparation platform constructed and managed in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). It serves as a scaled and standardized "clinically graded cell preparation factory," laying a solid foundation for the "West China Production" process and facilitating the smooth transition of innovative technologies from the laboratory to clinical applications.