MTBVAC

MTBVAC is a tuberculosis vaccine that is currently under development. It is a live, attenuated Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain, which is intended to replace the currently used BCG vaccine. The MTBVAC vaccine is being developed by the University of Zaragoza in Spain and the Biofabri company.

History

The development of the MTBVAC vaccine began in the early 2000s at the University of Zaragoza. The goal was to create a more effective vaccine than the BCG vaccine, which has been in use since the 1920s. The BCG vaccine is not fully effective against all forms of tuberculosis, particularly the most infectious form, pulmonary tuberculosis.

Development

The MTBVAC vaccine is a live, attenuated strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This means that it is a version of the bacteria that has been modified to be less virulent, but still able to stimulate an immune response. The vaccine is currently in phase II clinical trials.

Clinical trials

The first phase I clinical trial for the MTBVAC vaccine was completed in 2015. The results showed that the vaccine was safe and well-tolerated in healthy adults. The phase II clinical trial is currently underway. This trial is testing the safety and efficacy of the vaccine in people with tuberculosis.

Potential benefits

If successful, the MTBVAC vaccine could provide several benefits over the current BCG vaccine. It could potentially provide better protection against pulmonary tuberculosis, and it could also be used in people who are HIV-positive, who are currently not recommended to receive the BCG vaccine due to the risk of complications.

See also

• Tuberculosis
• BCG vaccine
• Vaccine
• Mycobacterium tuberculosis
• Clinical trial