A Phase 3 study of the M72/AS01E vaccine has successfully recruited its target of 20,000 participants in five countries, exceeding expectations. The trial, which began delivering shots last March, aims to test the two-dose vaccine’s safety and efficacy in preventing tuberculosis (TB) cases.
The vaccine, developed by the Gates Medical Research Institute, is designed to prevent adolescents and adults from advancing to the dangerous stage of TB infection. Experts believe it could become a crucial tool in reducing deaths from and transmission of the disease, which kills over a million people annually.
However, the trial’s early success comes at a challenging time for global health funding. US cuts have threatened treatment and surveillance programs, as well as support for Gavi, an organization helping low-income countries purchase vaccines.
The vaccine trial is funded by the Gates Foundation and Wellcome Trust, and has not been affected by the US withdrawal from global health efforts. Researchers are now planning to move towards potential regulatory approval, manufacturing, and distribution, with a focus on making the vaccine accessible and affordable.
Source: https://www.statnews.com/2025/04/28/major-tuberculosis-vaccine-trial-completes-enrollment-faster-than-expected