N. Engl. J. Med. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1803484 (2018).
Results from a new tuberculosis (TB) vaccine tested in individuals with latent TB suggest that this vaccine delays or prevents progression to active TB.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis has infected 25% of the world’s population, but there is no approved vaccine that prevents transmission of TB. Preventing reactivation of TB in individuals with latent infection would have a major impact on disease burden and spread.
A phase 2b placebo-controlled trial of a TB vaccine (M72/AS01E) was conducted in three African countries and involved more than 3,500 HIV-negative adults with latent TB. After a mean of 2.3 years, the vaccine demonstrated 54% vaccine-mediated protection against TB reactivation.
The trial results may offer new insights into the development of a highly effective TB vaccine.
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Farrell, A. A vaccine for tuberculosis. Nat Med 24, 1637 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-018-0258-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-018-0258-5
