Tuberculosis Vaccines 2023

Tuberculosis Vaccines May 2023

Tuberculosis (TB) is a vaccine-preventable disease, with Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccination, says the World Health Organization (WHO). TB is the ninth leading cause of death worldwide and the leading cause of a single infectious agent, ranking above HIV/AIDS. Countries in Africa account for about one-third of TB deaths and a fifth of cases worldwide. The WHO publishes estimated TB rates for each country and territory.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, announced plans on January 17, 2023, to establish a new TB Vaccine Accelerator Council. In addition, the End TB by 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals are outlined in the WHO End TB Strategy. On April 18, 2023, Blessina Kumar, a member of WHO's Civil Society Taskforce on TB and CEO of the Global Coalition of TB Advocates, confirmed 16 TB vaccine candidates.

Tuberculosis Vaccinations U.S.

The BCG vaccine is considered for people who meet specific criteria in the United States. BCG vaccination should only be considered for children with a negative TB test and who are continually exposed and cannot be separated from adults who are untreated or ineffectively treated for TB. In addition, the child cannot be given long-term primary preventive treatment for TB infection or has isoniazid- and rifampin-resistant strains of TB disease.

Tuberculosis Vaccinations United Kingdom

In the UK, like many other countries, the BCG vaccine is offered to babies who are likely to spend time with someone with TB, who live in an area with high rates of TB, or babies with parents or grandparents from a country with high rates of TB.

Tuberculosis Vaccine Benefits

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health researchers announced on February 17, 2023, that a recent study found that introducing an effective TB vaccine in low- and middle-income countries could lead to billions of dollars in potential health and economic benefits. In addition, a recent WHO-commissioned study estimates that, over 25 years, a vaccine that is 50% effective in preventing TB among adolescents and adults could avert up to 8.5 million deaths and reduce US$ 6.5 billion in costs, especially for the poorest and most vulnerable.

BCG Vaccines

BCG vaccine - Merck's TICE BCG vaccine is available in the U.S.

TICE® BCG - U.S. FDA approved (STN: 103050) for use in the USA. Organon Teknika Corp., LLC.

BCG Vaccine "AJ Vaccines" - approved in the U.K.

TUBERVAC - approved in India.

VERITY-BCG™ - approved in Canada.

BCG Moreau - approved in Brazil.

BCG China - approved in China.

Tubcerculisus Vaccine Candidates 2023

According to the TB Vaccine Initiative, 24 vaccine candidates are conducting 29 clinical studies as of March 2023.

ImmunityBio is studying N-803 plus TICE® BCG vaccine in adults with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer CIS with or without Ta/T1 papillary disease.

Serum Institute of India VPM1002 vaccine candidate is a genetically modified recombinant BCG vaccine conducting a phase 3 double-blind trial comparing VPM1002 to BCG. In addition, the Republic of Kenya Centre for Respiratory Diseases Research is working on a BCG recombinant Phase III vaccine trial for infants in Nairobi and Siaya counties.

GSK M72/AS01E vaccine (subunit with adjuvant) is being developed by the Gates Medical Research Institute. The WHO's SAGE proposed building the evidence base for adults and adolescents focused on the M72/AS01E vaccine candidate. 

Additional efficacy clinical trials for GSK's M72/AS01 vaccine are warranted to include other at-risk populations where safety has been demonstrated. 

IDRI's ID93 + GLA-SE vaccine candidate was found safe and immunogenic in healthy adults on March 6, 2023. U.S. NIH-funded phase 1, double-blind, randomized clinical trial of single-vial lyophilized ID93 + GLA-SE is ongoing. ID93+GLA-SE was developed by Christopher B. Fox, Ph.D., and scientists at the Access to Advanced Health Institute and is a recombinant subunit vaccine made from four proteins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria combined with GLA-SE, an immune-stimulating adjuvant.

In April 2023, BioNTech SE initiated a randomized, controlled, dose-finding Phase 1 clinical trial of BNT164, an mRNA vaccine candidate against TB, in partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

MTBVAC is a live attenuated vaccine against TB conducting phase 3 clinical research.

Tuberculosis Cases in the United States

Tuberculosis outbreaks in the U.S. during 2023 are posted at Precision Vaccinations.

Tuberculosis Tests

As of May 2, 2023, the USPSTF recommends screening for latent tuberculosis infection in populations at increased risk. In addition, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the Global Fund), the United States Agency for International Development, and the Stop TB Partnership announced on March 9, 2023, a new collaboration today with Molbio Diagnostics that significantly reduces the price of the Truenat® MTB and MTB Plus tests, including a supply of MTB-RIF Dx tests for subsequent testing for rifampicin resistance, and ensures timely service and maintenance of diagnostic instruments.