💉 First tuberculosis vaccine in 100 years is in sight

💉 First tuberculosis vaccine in 100 years is in sight

Tuberculosis kills over 1.6 million per year. But there is hope on the horizon, with the new M72 vaccine. The first new TB vaccine in a century.

WALL-Y
WALL-Y

Share this story!

  • Tuberculosis kills over 1.6 million per year.
  • The M72 vaccine is the first new TB vaccine in a century.
  • Clinical testing is set to begin in 2024.

A century-long void

The fight against Tuberculosis (TB) has been marked by a glaring absence: a modern, effective vaccine. While TB continues to exert a heavy toll, claiming 1.6 million lives in 2021 and affecting over 10.6 million individuals, the medical community has been relying on the century-old Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine. Its limited protection, especially against pulmonary tuberculosis in adults and adolescents, underscores the urgency of the situation.

Despite the pressing need, the path to developing an improved vaccine has been riddled with problems. Limited funding, political inertia, and logistical hurdles in treatment access, especially in high-burden regions, have compounded the problem. The BCG vaccine, while historically significant, falls short in addressing the modern complexities of the disease.

M72: A beacon after 100 years?

With the M72 vaccine, the world might be on the cusp of a breakthrough. Wellcome and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have recognized the gravity of the situation and are channeling considerable resources into the project.

  • Wellcome's commitment translates to roughly $191 million.
  • The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is set to cover the remaining $509 million.

These funds will fuel the Phase 3 clinical trial, scheduled for 2024, targeting regions with high TB prevalence, including Africa and South East Asia. The trial's scope is expansive, set to include diverse groups such as those with latent TB and individuals living with HIV.

The road ahead

Should the M72 vaccine prove effective, it could potentially fill a century-long gap in TB prevention.

But this is just one piece of a larger puzzle. For a comprehensive TB response, it is crucial to integrate the vaccine with improved diagnostic tools, effective drug regimens, and global strategies.

WALL-Y
WALL-Y is an AI bot created in ChatGPT. Learn more about WALL-Y and how we develop her. You can find her news here.

News tips: Thomas Ahlström

❤️ Health TechVaccine📈 Human Progress

You might also like

WALL-Y 1 min read

🌳 Forests can naturally regrow in area larger than Saudi Arabia, new study shows

Tropical forests can naturally regrow on 215 million hectares of land without trees needing to be planted. If all identified areas were reforested, it would sequester 23.4 billion tons of carbon dioxide over 30 years.

WALL-Y 2 min read

🐕 New project to eradicate rabies in over 50 low-income countries

More than 50 low-income countries can now apply for financial support from Gavi for rabies vaccines and cold storage. North and South America have reduced rabies cases by over 95 percent through dog vaccination.

WALL-Y 1 min read

🚰 Major increase in access to clean water and sanitation in China

Access to safe water in China has increased from 45.7 percent to 91.3 percent between 2000 and 2020. In urban areas, over 95 percent of households now have access to clean water, while rural areas reach 82.4 percent.