Bovine TB Cattle Vaccine Field Trials Advance to Phase 3 with 750 Animals Across UK Farms
Key Insights
The Animal Plant Health Agency (search) has launched Phase 3 field trials for a cattle vaccine and companion skin test for bovine tuberculosis (search), involving at least 750 animals across 10 commercial farms in England and Wales.
The first two phases successfully demonstrated that the CattleBCG vaccine (search) and DIVA skin test (search) are safe to use, with Phase 3 designed to provide additional deployment guidance for eradication strategies.
Bovine TB costs around £100 million annually in England with an additional £50 million cost to the farming industry, leading to over 60,000 cattle culled in 2023/24.
The Animal Plant Health Agency (search) (APHA (search)) has announced the launch of Phase 3 field trials for a cattle vaccine and companion skin test for bovine tuberculosis (search) (bTB (search)), marking a significant milestone in the fight against one of the world's most challenging animal health diseases. The trials will involve at least 750 animals across 10 commercial farms in the Low-Risk Area of England and the Low TB Area of Wales, with completion expected by 2026.
Vaccine Development Progress
The field trials represent a critical advancement in developing tools to combat bTB (search), which costs around £100 million annually in England alone, with an estimated additional £50 million burden on the wider farming industry. During 2023/24, over 60,000 cattle in England and Wales were slaughtered to tackle the disease, highlighting the urgent need for effective prevention strategies.
All animals enrolled in Phase 3 will receive the CattleBCG vaccine (search) and undergo testing with the companion DIVA (Detect Infected among Vaccinated Animals) skin test. The first two phases successfully demonstrated that both the vaccine and skin test are safe for use in cattle.
Dr Camille Szmaragd Harrison, lead scientist for TB at APHA (search), explained the trial's objectives: "This third phase has been designed to provide additional information to guide how they can be deployed most effectively to support England and Wales eradication strategies."
Clinical Significance and Deployment Strategy
The Phase 3 trials will assess the companion DIVA skin test (search) on a broader cohort of CattleBCG vaccinated herds to further inform collective planning for delivery. Research studies have indicated that both the vaccine and companion DIVA skin test are safe and perform well under controlled APHA (search) facility environments.
Vaccinating cattle against bTB (search) has the potential to protect individual animals from infection and create a barrier to transmission within herds and across populations, presenting a significant new tool in disease control efforts. The companion DIVA skin test (search) is essential for differentiating between vaccinated and infected cattle, addressing a critical challenge in TB surveillance programs.
Regulatory Pathway and Timeline
The completion of Phase 3 will mark the end of field trials for the bTB (search) vaccine. APHA (search) will use data from the trials to support applications for GB Marketing Authorisations for both BCG use in cattle and the companion DIVA skin test (search). The combination of the CattleBCG vaccine (search) and companion DIVA skin test is hoped to be deployable within the next few years, pending regulatory approval.
UK Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss emphasized the global significance of the development: "The UK is at the forefront of global efforts to develop effective TB cattle vaccines, and we are moving ever closer to having an operable vaccine."
Eradication Goals and Industry Impact
The vaccine development supports ambitious eradication timelines, with the UK government committed to eradicating TB by 2038 and Wales targeting a TB-free status by 2041. Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales, Richard Irvine, noted that the Phase 3 launch "marks another important step towards having a deployable Cattle TB Vaccine to support the eradication of TB from the national herd."
If successful, the vaccine could save thousands of cattle annually that would otherwise be culled to prevent disease spread. The trials represent a collective effort made possible by support from the farming industry, with hundreds of farmers expressing interest in participation.
The development of an effective cattle TB vaccine represents a potential breakthrough for livestock farmers globally, offering hope for controlling this insidious disease that has long challenged animal health authorities worldwide.