A new vaccine against tuberculosis was invented in Russia
Today is World Tuberculosis Day.
This vaccine topped the list of 10 major Russian inventions in 2020. The drug should not only prevent the onset of the disease but – most importantly – significantly reduce the mortality rate among those already infected.
The scientists from the Gamaleya National Center of epidemiology and microbiology who have developed the vaccine emphasize that this is not a replacement for the Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine, released exactly a hundred years ago, but an addition to it.
“Its function is precisely to help prolong the immunological protection that BCG forms in a baby, and therefore our drug should work in synergy with BCG”, explained Artem Tkachuk, Head of laboratory at the Gamaleya National Center.
Thus, the new vaccine will enhance the effect of BCG. In addition, it can be used not only for the prevention of tuberculosis but also for its treatment. There are no other dual-action drugs against mycobacterium tuberculosis in the world today. Also, unlike its analogues, the vaccine stimulates the body's immune response to both active and the so-called “dormant” bacteria.
“The fact that tuberculosis is in latent form and its detection is a rather complicated procedure will not matter in this case. Latent tuberculosis will also be cured and prevented in the future”, indicated Grigory Ivliev, Head of the Federal Intellectual Property Service.
Clinical trials have shown that the new vaccine does not cause side effects. It does not contain the pathogen. Unlike BCG, the drug can be used when other diseases are present; it is compatible, for example, with HIV. This is very important since 40% of HIV-infected people develop tuberculosis. Moreover, the vaccine will protect those who have already suffered from this disease.
“It is known that about 10% of such people get sick again and go back to the hospital”, Artem Tkachuk commented.
The development of the vaccine has been going on for more than 10 years. The scientists explained that the mycobacteria grow very slowly, so it takes at least a year to test the effects of another version of the drug. “Bacteria are grown in a special apparatus”, Artem Tkachuk noted. The vaccine has successfully passed the two phases of clinical trials; the third, final stage is now in progress.
The developers at Gamaleya National Center expect that the drug will go into mass production within the next two years.
