China launches human trials of Aids vaccine

A 20-year-old man became the first volunteer to receive the vaccine Saturday, the Xinhua news agency said. He was followed by seven others.

Forty-nine volunteers aged 18-50 will undergo trials for the vaccine in the next year and longer, Xinhua said, citing Chen Jie, deputy director of the center for disease control and prevention in the southern province of Guangxi.

The trials will be conducted in three phases, Chen said, with the first lasting 14 months. The second phase will test the immune nature and safety of the vaccine.