Kenya Picked For TB Vaccine Trial Among 3 African Countries
Kenya is one of three African countries poised to take part in a medical trial run by IAVI, a global research body, and Biofabri.
The trial’s goal is to assess the efficacy of the MTBVAC vaccination in preventing TB illness in adolescents and adults with latent TB infection.
According to IAVI, the IMAGINE (Investigation of MTBVAC toward Accelerating Global Immunization for a Neglected Epidemic) phase 2b Clinical trial, which will include 4,300 people with latent tuberculosis, will take place across 15 sites in South Africa, Kenya, and Tanzania.
The study will take place at the Kenya Medical Research Institute/Center for Respiratory Disease Research in Nairobi and the Victoria Biomedical Research Institute in Kisumu.
“MTBVAC is a promising vaccine candidate being evaluated in the IMAGINE trial, a large-scale safety and efficacy trial evaluating the prevention of TB disease in adolescents and adults with latent TB infection in South Africa, Kenya, and Tanzania,” the statement read.
1/ For over 100 years, we've relied on the same TB vaccine, which only partially protects children and doesn't work in adults. That could finally change with MTBVAC, a new vaccine candidate whose first Phase II b trial doses were administered last week in South Africa. 🧵 pic.twitter.com/opNkghtvrX
— Alexander Berger (@albrgr) February 26, 2025
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious illness caused by bacteria that mostly affects the lungs and spreads via the air when people cough, sneeze, or spit.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 10.8 million individuals will contract tuberculosis (TB) in 2023, including 6.0 million men, 3.6 million women, and 1.3 million children.
According to the Kenya Demographic Health Survey (KDHS) 2022, around 1.1% of the Kenyan population is currently infected with tuberculosis.
A latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) occurs when TB germs are present in the body but do not cause symptoms and are not communicable.
According to the World Health Organization, approximately one-quarter of the world’s population has been afflicted with tuberculosis.
Approximately 5-10% of those infected with tuberculosis will develop symptoms and TB illness.
The Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is the only one licensed for tuberculosis, yet it only protects children somewhat.
ALSO READ:
- Meth Worth Ksh10 Million Nabbed At JKIA Packed On Handmade Clothes
- Court Rules On Amos Kimunya’s Ksh 60M Land Case, Frees Trio Implicated
- Kirinyaga Women Rep Blocked From Accessing School Despite Lobbying Its Construction
- Kenya, Türkiye Sign Defence Pact Months After Drone Acquisition
- KUCCPS Announces Portal Opening Date As Application Window Closes
However, it does not protect against tuberculosis in adolescents or adults, necessitating the use of another vaccination.
“A TB vaccine effective in children, adolescents, and adults would save millions of lives otherwise lost to TB over time,” IAVI stated.
According to IAVI, the single-shot vaccination MTBVAC has achieved promising results, with a phase 2 trial demonstrating comparable immunogenicity and safety characteristics at various dosages to BCG.
“The IMAGINE trial is an important new effort to develop a vaccine capable of combating the world’s deadliest disease,” said Lewis Schrager, head of IAVI’s TB vaccine development efforts.
Kenya Picked For TB Vaccine Trial Among 3 African Countries
