China's Tianjin CanSino Biotechnology to mass produce Ebola vaccine

BEIJING: A private Chinese biotechnology company is planning to mass produce a vaccine to contain Ebola virus.

Tianjin CanSino Biotechnology Inc has started construction of an industry base to produce the vaccine, developed by a team of biotech experts with the Chinese Academy of Military Medical Sciences, in the Tianjin Economic and Technological Development Area, the company said.

Investment into the base totals 2 billion yuan (about USD 317 million) and construction will be complete in September, 2018.

The base also produces other vaccines against pneumonia, meningitis and tuberculosis. Annual production is around 200 million vaccines, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The vaccine is based on the 2014 mutant gene type and in the form of freeze-dried powder, which can remain stable for at least two weeks in temperatures of up to 37 degrees Celsius.

Experts say it is suitable for the tropical climate in West African countries, where the deadly epidemic outbreak has killed more than 11,297 people since 2014, the report said.

According to the Ministry of Health of Sierra Leone, one of the three most affected countries along with Liberia and Guinea, the vaccine has proven "clinically safe".

Since the outbreak, China has offered USD 120 million of aid and 500 medical staff and experts to affected countries.