The creation of the BCG (Bacille Calmette-Guérin) vaccine in 1921 is still considered one of the main milestones of science. She was responsible for drastically reducing cases of the two most serious forms of tuberculosis in young children. But since then, research aimed at developing new disease prevention strategies has been stagnant in time.
For more than a century, immunization programs around the world have used the same vaccine and international authorities have drawn attention to the fact that BCG does not adequately protect all age groups. Last year, the World Health Organization (WHO) recorded, for the first time in more than a decade, an increase in deaths from the disease.
“The only vaccine against tuberculosis developed to date, BCG is more than 100 years old and does not adequately protect adolescents and adults, who represent most of the transmission of the disease”, pointed out the director general of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, at a press conference held on March 24.
It is estimated that approximately 10 million people are infected by the bacteria every year, mainly in low-income countries. In 2021, around 1.6 million patients died after the infection. The risk is greater for individuals with compromised immune systems, such as people with diabetes, who smoke, who are living with HIV or who are malnourished.
Tuberculosis is a bacterial disease that mainly affects the lungs, but it can also affect the bones, kidneys and meninges – the membranes that surround the brain. For these cases, BCG is not as efficient.
The director of the Brazilian Society of Immunizations (SBIM), Isabella Ballalai, explains that the The purpose of BCG is to reduce the risk of miliary tuberculosis and tuberculosis meningitis, which occur in childhood, which justifies the indication for children younger than 5 years. However, the disease can also present itself in other forms.
“Tuberculosis is a serious public health problem. Fortunately, we have BCG, but we need a vaccine that is really capable of reducing or eliminating the disease”, says the director of SBIM.
studies in progress
In a recent interview with Reuters agency, Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates has said that lack of funding could delay testing of an experimental late-stage TB vaccine. It is estimated that the tests will cost between US$ 700 million and US$ 800 million, around R$ 4 billion.
“The failure to fund these immunizers, which impede the full-speed advance of vaccine trials, is a big mistake,” said Gates on Monday (3/4).
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, one of the largest funders of TB studies, supports the development of M72/AS01. Originally developed by GSK and non-profit organization Aeras, the project is being led by the Bill and Melinda Gates Institute for Medical Research.
The businessman reported that the plan for phase 3 testing of the immunizer will be announced later this year, but asked governments and other philanthropists to be ready to help finance the tests. “While we are a big funder, we also need partners,” said Gates.
Investment
WHO has proposed to establish a Tuberculosis Vaccine Acceleration Board to facilitate the development, licensing and use of new TB vaccines.
World leaders will gather in September in New York, United States, for the second high-level meeting at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly on tuberculosis. The WHO leader hopes that the meeting will be a turning point in the fight against the disease, with the authorities making real and lasting investment commitments.
“Ending TB is not the job of WHO, governments or health systems alone. This will require action and greater accountability from all governments, agencies, donors, researchers, the private sector and civil society,” said Ghebreyesus.
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