Fresh vaccine holds potential to fundamentally alter our understanding of tuberculosis

In a groundbreaking development, a new video discusses exciting innovations in the TB R&D pipeline that could transform life for people affected by the disease. The video, featuring Puneet Dewan, Senior Program Officer at the TB Delivery of the Gates Foundation, highlights the importance of prevention, specifically vaccinations, in the fight against TB.

One such promising vaccine is M72. Developed by the Gates Medical Research Institute, M72 is a potential new TB vaccine that could protect adults and adolescents from the disease. An earlier study published in 2019 reported nearly 50% efficacy after three years in preventing TB-infected adults from developing active disease. If M72 shows similar results in final stage testing and is ultimately approved, it could prevent 76 million new TB cases over the next quarter-century.

The landmark M72/AS01E tuberculosis vaccine trial is being conducted, sponsored by the Gates Medical Research Institute and funded by the Gates Foundation and Wellcome. The foundation funding the research and clinical testing of the M72 tuberculosis vaccine is the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health concern, with 1.25 million people dying from TB in 2023, making it the world's deadliest infectious disease. In South Africa, TB is the leading cause of death among people with HIV. Dr. Lee Fairlie, a pediatrician and researcher in Johannesburg, South Africa, has seen many TB cases.

Dr. Nandipha Titana, working in her South African community through Be Part, is fighting TB by connecting people to care and building trust. Her work is crucial in the fight against TB, as prevention and care are key to reducing the impact of this disease.

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Fresh vaccine holds potential to fundamentally alter our understanding of tuberculosis