Tuberculosis Vaccine Development
IDRI and GlaxoSmithKline have completed scanning the entire genome of M. tuberculosis for vaccine antigens, resulting in the identification of the dominant proteins capable of stimulating protective immune responses. This collaboration has resulted in the development of the world's first defined vaccine for tuberculosis. Phase I testing of this novel vaccine candidate is on-going and IDRI hopes to sponsor Phase II trials in Latin America. IDRI has also participated in the development of effective, low-cost diagnostic tests for TB.
About Tuberculosis
Although statistics associated with TB are already staggering, the situation is getting worse. Because of AIDS and the development of drug-resistant TB strains, the World Health Organization has declared TB to be a global emergency. There is no universally effective TB vaccine. The vaccine used in many countries for the past 70 or more years, BCG, is not an ideal vaccine for a number of reasons: it has low or no efficacy in many parts of the world against pulmonary TB; it induces granuloma, necrosis, and leaves a scar; and it requires cold chain for delivery.
Almost a third of the world's population is exposed to M. tuberculosis and possibly carries the infection without any sign of the disease. Those who succumb and develop the disease may transmit the infection. Prevention of disease development post-infection is a possible strategy for control if a vaccine cannot prevent infection.
What is Needed to Make a Better Tuberculosis Vaccine?
We must now proceed rapidly to optimize our vaccine and continue clinical testing. If all goes well, we hope to have a safe and effective TB vaccine soon. Read more about TB vaccine development at IDRI
Sylvie Bertholet, Senior Scientist
Darrick Carter, Director of Formulations
Greg Ireton, Scientist I
Thomas Vedvick, Director of Process Sciences
Alice Grasset, Project Manager
Jeffrey Guderian, Principal Research Associate
Lauren Carter, Senior Research Associate
Valerie Reese, Senior Research Associate
Irina Zharkikh, Research Associate
Katie Carper, Senior Research Assistant
Remy Bailor, Research Assistant