Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, has expressed optimism regarding the progress of the M72 tuberculosis (TB) vaccine clinical trial, suggesting it could offer 70% efficacy. Gates made these remarks during an interview in Abuja, Nigeria, on the sidelines of the 2024 NutriVision dialogue.
The Phase 3 clinical trial of the M72/AS01E vaccine, sponsored by the Gates MRI, was initiated on March 19 to evaluate its effectiveness in preventing pulmonary TB in adolescents and adults. If successful, this vaccine could be the first new TB vaccine in over a century.
The trial, costing $500 million, is a collaborative effort involving GSK and the Wellcome Trust. Gates noted that tuberculosis is difficult to diagnose and often underfunded, with multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) posing a significant public health crisis.
The Need for New TB Treatments
According to the World Health Organization, 10.6 million people fell ill with TB in 2022, resulting in 1.3 million deaths, predominantly in low- and middle-income countries. Current TB treatments require patients to take drugs for nine months, and the rise of drug-resistant strains complicates the situation.
"We have a lot of new drugs. The current drugs, sadly, you’ll have to take them for nine months. And, there’s some TB out there that is drug resistant, either single drug resistant or multi drug resistant," Gates stated.
M72 Vaccine Potential
The M72 vaccine trial is expected to last four years, with hopes of demonstrating a 70% reduction in TB cases. While a 90% reduction is considered unlikely, even a 70% efficacy would represent a significant advancement in TB prevention.
Ending the TB epidemic by 2030 is a key target of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Gates' visit to Nigeria underscores the foundation's commitment to supporting Africa's development and addressing critical health challenges.
