Researchers develop recombinant TB vax

Calisha Myers — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:51:43 -0400

Researchers at Saint Louis University have developed a vaccine for tuberculosis that may offer better protection than the one currently in use. The investigational vaccine is made from a weakened TB germ from one of the strains of the current TB vaccine, which was created over 75 years ago. The current vaccine is about 70 percent protective against deaths or meningitis from tuberculosis and about 50 percent protective against pulmonary tuberculosis.

In a phase I clinical trial researchers vaccinated 35 participants to monitor the immune system responses. The standard vaccine, Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG), was given to 17 participants, and 18 received the recombinant BCG vaccine. Researchers compared five immune functions induced by the vaccines and found that the immune system produced stronger responses than the standard vaccine, caused no safety concerns and was well tolerated.

This particular recombinant vaccine will not be tested further because it contains an antibiotic resistant gene that researchers want to keep out of the environment, according to the University's statement. Scientists at St. Louis University plan to continue with trials of a similar recombinant BCG vaccine that they expect to be even more potent, said Daniel Hoft, M.D., Ph.D., director of the division of immunobiology at Saint Louis University School of Medicine and lead author of the study.

- read the release

Novartis opens non-profit R&D vaccine center

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 06:59:58 -0500

One of the world's biggest pharma companies is breaking its business mold for its new R&D center for vaccines. Novartis is modeling its new vaccine development center in Italy on the Novartis Institute for Tropical Disease in Singapore. Officials say the new institute will have a non-profit focus, exclusively concentrating on new vaccines for the developing world. About 15 staffers will be working at the institute by the end of this year with a total staff of 80 after it fully ramps up in several years. The corporate research arm will operate under Novartis' global R&D umbrella, while at the same time maintaining an independent agenda and a dedicated management staff. Its goal is to launch new vaccines in the developing world, striking collaborations with academic research groups as it advances a slate of therapies that can be marketed at an accessible price to the world's poorest people.

"NVGH will aim to become a centre of excellence for vaccines for neglected diseases," comments Paul Herrling, the company's head of corporate research. "Novartis has already set-up a similar research institute dedicated to neglected tropical diseases for pharmaceutical drugs, and similarly to that, accessibility to and affordability of NVGH products will be the priority, not commercial value or profit potential."

- read the report from In-Pharmatechnologist
- and this FierceBiotech item

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Vaccine Development

Researchers develop recombinant TB vax

Novartis opens non-profit R&D vaccine center