Biofabri and IAVI announce partnership to advance MTBVAC into efficacy trials

16 July 2021

Biofabri and IAVI have announced their intention to partner on efficacy trials of the tuberculosis (TB) vaccine candidate MTBVAC. This highly promising vaccine candidate has the potential to be used as an alternative to BCG vaccination in infants and for prevention of TB disease in adolescents and adults. EDCTP supports the development of MTBVAC through two projects, MTBVAC-Newborns and MTBVACN3. The latter project will conduct a Phase III trial of MTBVAC in newborns, scheduled to begin in several African countries in 2021. IAVI will support the development and further resource mobilization for MTBVAC, including for an adolescent/adult trial. TBVI will also support the ongoing trial preparations.

“It is very encouraging to see TB vaccines research and development gaining momentum with a long-term commitment of partners and with an end-to-end product development approach. COVID-19 has once again demonstrated the fundamental importance of global collaboration to accelerate new medical product development. We welcome this new partnership and are committed to support the further development of this promising TB vaccine candidate”

Dr Michael Makanga, EDCTP Executive Director

More information

Press release (IAVI) Spanish pharmaceutical company Zendal and IAVI partner to advance the tuberculosis vaccine candidate MTBVAC into efficacy trials

The MTBVAC-Newborns project supported by EDCTP tests the MTBVAC candidate in a Phase IIa trial in newborns. This trial completed its enrollment in March 2021. Read all about the challenge, and the potential result and impact of this study.

EDCTP recently awarded the MTBVACN3 project that supports the Phase III trial of MTBVAC in newborns. More information on this project is available here.

Both MTBVAC projects are part of a broader portfolio of EDCTP supported TB vaccine research. To date, EDCTP has awarded €51.18 million to support the development of TB vaccines through four collaborative research projects, more information here.

On 20 April 2021, EDCTP and the Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development (AIGHD) launched a global TB vaccine R&D roadmap. It identifies priorities for the development and implementation of new TB vaccines with the aim to coordinate and accelerate global action. The project was carried out in close collaboration with the World Health Organization.