Bharat Biotech begins Trials on groundbreaking TB vaccine | Fusion - WeRIndia

In a significant move to combat tuberculosis (TB), Bharat Biotech International Ltd announced the initiation of clinical trials in India for a new TB vaccine, Mtbvac.

Developed by the Spanish firm Biofabri, this vaccine stands out as the first derived from a human source, marking a promising step forward in TB prevention efforts.

Mtbvac aims to serve dual purposes. Primarily, it seeks to offer a more effective and potentially longer-lasting alternative to the current BCG vaccine for newborns.

Additionally, it targets the prevention of TB in adults and adolescents—a demographic presently without an effective vaccine.

This endeavour reflects a collaborative effort between Bharat Biotech and Biofabri, showcasing a commitment to addressing a global health challenge.

The commencement of trials evaluates Mtbvac’s safety and immunogenicity, laying the groundwork for a pivotal trial set for 2025. This development is particularly crucial in India, which bears a significant portion of the world’s TB burden.

The CEO of Biofabri stated that it was a giant step to test in adults and adolescents in a country where more than one-fourth of cases had been reported. He also highlighted the vaccine’s potential impact.

Krishna Ella, Executive Chairman of Bharat Biotech, also emphasized the importance of this milestone. He said that it is a big boost to conduct clinical trials in India against TB.

The Mtbvac vaccine has already achieved several key milestones before its clinical trials in India. Following a successful Phase-2 dose-finding trial, a Phase-3 clinical trial in newborns began in 2023.

This trial compares Mtbvac with the BCG vaccine, involving 7,000 newborns from various countries. Some of them are South Africa, Madagascar, and Senegal. To date, over 1,900 babies have been vaccinated.

This groundbreaking research offers new hope in the fight against TB, a leading infectious cause of death worldwide.

Bharat Biotech’s trials represent a critical step towards developing more effective TB prevention strategies for both adults and adolescents, potentially saving millions of lives in India and beyond.

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Image Reference: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-of-a-vial-and-a-syringe-5721385/