New TB vaccine passes testing

A new TB vaccine that is hoped to be more effective than previous versions has passed a significant part of its testing.

The Phase I trial for the new vaccine, called MVA85A, has been a success and has been published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Helen McShane, Wellcome senior fellow at the University of Oxford's Jenner Institute, noted that finding a new workable vaccine could be a major step to preventing fresh TB epidemics.

"A more effective vaccine regimen than the currently available bacillus Calmette-Guerin would have a major impact on the global TB burden, and ultimately, will be the most efficient way to control this pandemic," she stated.

"The results of this trial are very important, as they suggest MVA85A is safe and highly immunogenic in people who are infected with M. tuberculosis."

More research has been called for in order to follow up the potential of this first test result.

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