Approved & Available
FDA, EMA, and globally approved. Part of universal infant vaccination in most countries.
Hepatitis B Vaccine
Also known as: HBV vaccine · Engerix-B · Recombivax HB
The hepatitis B vaccine is one of the first true cancer vaccines, though rarely framed that way. Chronic hepatitis B infection is the leading cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer, responsible for ~700,000 deaths/year globally. Taiwan's universal HBV vaccination program (launched 1984) has been running for 40 years and has produced a landmark natural experiment: a 75% reduction in liver cancer mortality in the vaccinated generation versus the unvaccinated generation. The WHO lists it as the most successful cancer prevention tool in history for developing nations.
What It Targets
Target Antigen
Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)
Cancers Targeted
How It Works
Recombinant HBsAg (the outer protein of the hepatitis B virus) is produced in yeast cells and injected. The immune system forms memory B cells and antibody-producing plasma cells against HBsAg. When exposed to real HBV, antibodies neutralise the virus before it can establish chronic infection — and it is this chronic infection, not acute infection, that drives hepatocellular carcinogenesis through decades of inflammation, cirrhosis, and oncogenic integration of HBV DNA.
Key Trial Results
- Taiwan 40-year cohort: 75% reduction in HCC mortality in children vaccinated at birth vs unvaccinated generation
- 95%+ efficacy in preventing chronic HBV infection when 3-dose series completed
- WHO: if sustained high coverage globally, could eliminate hepatitis B as a public health threat by 2030
- China national program: HCC incidence in under-20s dropped by 90% in provinces with >95% vaccine coverage
- Alaska: 98.5% reduction in chronic HBV in Native American children after universal program (1982–2002)
Regulatory Status & Availability
Approval Status
FDA, EMA, and globally approved. Part of universal infant vaccination in most countries.
Estimated Availability
Available now — included in standard infant vaccination schedule globally
Important Considerations
- 3-dose series (0, 1, 6 months) needed for full protection; antibody testing at 4–8 weeks post-series recommended for high-risk individuals
- 5–10% of adults are non-responders — titre testing important if at risk
- Heplisav-B (2-dose CpG adjuvanted version) approved 2017 for faster, stronger response in adults
- Does not treat existing chronic HBV infection — antiviral therapy (tenofovir, entecavir) needed for those already infected
Research References
iOnco provides this information for educational purposes only. Cancer vaccine availability, trial eligibility, and access pathways change frequently. Always discuss vaccination decisions and clinical trial participation with your oncologist or healthcare provider.