MEDICAL BIOTECHNOLOGY IN VIETNAM Ass. Prof. Nguyen Van Tuong, MD., Ph.D. Hanoi Medical University

Overview - Biotechnology is technologies in biology that produces bio- products to serve human e.g. nutrition, medicine. -Biotechnology development in one country is equivalent to the dollar amount invested for R&D. rVaccine for hepatitis Virus biologyGene structureGene transferRecombinant DNA

Needs in reality Basic research Development Application Clinical trial phase I, II, III Pre-clinical trial Ideas Hypothesis Biotech Solutions About 16 years Tough job here! Satisfy needs

Thee periods for Biotech development In developed countries: Traditional period Traditional period Sub-modern period Sub-modern period Modern period Modern period Biotech products: -Antibiotics: 12 bill -rProtein: 1 bill -Fermented products: 7 bill -Pesticides: 8 bill -Agriculture processing products: 150 bill -Livestock processing products: 100 bill

How is Medical Biotech In Vietnam? At starting point with some directions: 1. Diagnosis 2. Treatment 3. Prevention

Biotech for diagnosis 1.Gene analysis including DNA extraction, oligo synthesis, mutational analysis and DNA sequencing were carried out at Hanoi Medical University, Institute of Technology, Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Institute of Paster at HoChiMinh city. 2.The gene candidates are: EBV, SARS, H5N1, Duchenne, β-thalasemia, etc. 3.Application for diagnosis of inherited disease, virus or bacteria infection, genetic epidemiology, Vietnamese MIA remains.

Biotech for treatment -Blood cell sorting and VIII factor production were done at National Institute of Hematology. -Antiserum for rabies -Antiserum for snake toxic at Institute of Paster at HoChiMinh city, Nhatrang, University of Pharm and Med at HoChiMinh city. -Biomembrane from chitosan for burn treatment. -Immuno-stimulating drugs extracted from Vietnamese herbal or animals.

Biotech for diseases prevention Many vaccines have been produced so far: -Vaccine for diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus. -Vaccine for Japanese encephalitis -Vaccine for hepatitis -Vaccine for typhoid -Vaccine for polio

What and How to develop medical biotech in Vietnam? 1.We need to point out the priority 2.We need to invest dollar in: 1. Training 2. Equipments and facilities 3. Budget 3.Legal framework for scientists

Priority 1.Develop invested programs e.g. vaccine, antiserum production. 2.Establish national core centers in medical biotech. 3.Invest R&D research centers and encourage biotech transfer e.g. rProtein, genetic engineering, stem cell, ect. 4.Collaborating with advanced biotech countries in training biotech young scientists and doing research.