Universal Tuberculosis Vaccine Target Set for 2030
Tuberculosis killed 1.23 million people and caused 10.7 million cases globally in 2024, according to data highlighted at the 13th Congress of the Spanish Vaccinology Association in Vigo. Researcher Carlos Martín announced that a new Spanish-developed vaccine candidate, MTBVAC, could receive approval between 2029 and 2030 if clinical trials achieve an efficacy rate of 70% to 80%.
Clinical Trials and Vaccine Development by Biofabri
MTBVAC is the only live-attenuated vaccine derived directly from Mycobacterium tuberculosis currently in clinical development, according to details shared at the conference. Initiated in human clinical trials in 2012, the vaccine is currently evaluated in phase 3 trials involving thousands of participants across multiple countries. Biofabri, a company within the Zendal group, has participated in the industrial and clinical development of the project since 2008. The vaccine is designed to be administered in a single dose and can be stored for two years at four degrees of temperature, eliminating the need for freezers of minus 20 or minus 80 degrees.
Limitations of the Century-Old BCG Vaccine
The standard Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine, created more than a century ago from a bovine strain, protects infants against severe forms of the disease such as disseminated tuberculosis and meningitis. However, it offers limited protection against pulmonary tuberculosis in adolescents and adults, who are key in the transmission of the disease. MTBVAC is engineered from a human strain to protect against these respiratory forms, addressing a critical gap in global disease control.
Path to Global Eradication by 2050
The World Health Organization targets the global eradication of tuberculosis by 2050. Achieving this goal requires a vaccine with an efficacy between 70% and 80% that can be administered universally, according to Carlos Martín, professor at the University of Zaragoza. Researchers are also collaborating with an HIV foundation on trials, noting that in Africa people live with AIDS and die of tuberculosis.
Congress and Historical Context in Vigo
The XIII Congreso de la Asociación Española de Vacunología (AEV) concluded its sessions at the Auditorio Mar de Vigo with the participation of more than 500 experts from across Spain, featuring a closing conference delivered by Carlos Martín, who is a professor of microbiology at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Zaragoza and director Genetics Group. The event also highlighted historical milestones, noting that the Galician nurse Isabel Zendal traveled aboard the Real Expedición Filantrópica de la Vacuna when it set sail from the port of A Coruña in 1803.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does MTBVAC differ from the traditional BCG vaccine?
MTBVAC is derived directly from a human strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, whereas the BCG vaccine uses a bovine strain developed over a century ago. While BCG primarily protects infants against severe systemic infections, MTBVAC is designed to protect adolescents and adults against pulmonary tuberculosis.
What temperature requirements are needed to store MTBVAC?
The vaccine can be stored for two years at four degrees of temperature, requiring no freezers of minus 20 or minus 80 degrees for transport and distribution.
When did human testing for MTBVAC begin?
Human clinical trials for the vaccine candidate began in 2012, advancing through safety and immunogenicity evaluations before entering large-scale phase 3 trials.
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