11 Nov Phase 3 of the clinical trials of the MTBVAC vaccine against tuberculosis could be in Equatorial Guinea
A delegation from the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Equatorial Guinea headed by Vice Minister Mitoha Ondo’o visited the facilities of Biofabri, of the Zendal Group in Porriño (Spain), to learn more about the MTBVAC vaccine against tuberculosis since there is the possibility for phase 3 of the clinical trials to take place in Equatorial Guinea.
MTBVAC is a candidate vaccine against tuberculosis that has a high potential as an alternative to the only one currently available (BCG) with limited efficacy to prevent pulmonary tuberculosis in adults who, together with minors in adolescent age, is the group with higher rates of disease spread. Designed by researcher Dr. Carlos Martín from the University of Zaragoza, it is being manufactured and developed by Biofabri in collaboration with said University.
This vaccine will soon conclude the Phase 2 evaluation, being one of the most promising candidate vaccines in the current global pipeline against tuberculosis. For its part, Phase 3 in newborns will begin in 2022 in Madagascar, South Africa, Senegal and is supported by the Association of Clinical Trials of Europe and Developing Countries (EDCTP).
Tuberculosis remains a global public health problem with more than 1.4 million deaths annually, the highest death toll caused by an infectious disease only recently surpassed by COVID-19.