New Tuberculosis Vaccine Could be a Game Changer
While a new vaccine for TB might not see the market for another couple years, researchers are very optimistic it could have hugely helpful in treating TB worldwide.
Researchers recently announced a “revolutionary” new tuberculosis treatment that could have amazing effects on the spread of tuberculosis (TB). The vaccine would provide long-term protection against the disease that kills 1.5 million people every year.
While there are existing treatments and vaccines, they have proven not very effective. The world sees thousands of new cases each year, and many of these are multi-treatment resistant. It has been clear for some time that this disease is dangerous, and spreading.
The team of researchers for the vaccine come from all over the world, and they see the vaccine having incredible potential to help communities around the globe—especially those with high rates of the disease. The new vaccine, which is made up of proteins from bacteria that triggers an immune response, was announced at a global summit on lung health in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad last week.
Why is this One Special?
This new vaccine has already proven to be effective in treating people with TB, but it is showing signs of a protective element too and helping build natural protection.
David Lewinsohn, a TB expert, told the BBC the potential vaccine was a “real game changer.”
“What is really remarkable is that it was effective in adults who were already infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis that is the causative agent of TB,” he said.
He goes on to explain that while most people with Mycobaterium tuberculosis do not develop TB, researchers believe that infection confers a degree of protection. This is exciting, as the new vaccine “has been shown to improve on this natural immunity.”
The Road Ahead
The vaccine has already passed a series of clinical tests, but there are still a handful more tests and bigger trials to go before it can be officially lisenced released. It has been tested on more than 3,500 adults in TB endemic regions of South African, Kenya and Zambia, researchers said.
https://ift.tt/2BWXNPh
Comments
Post a Comment