Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute Initiates Phase 3 Clinical Trial of Tuberculosis Vaccine Candidate

Human Rights Day: The right to education remains elusive. Why is…Vivaldi Day: it’s all about youCambridge, Mass, USA, March 19, 2024 -/African Media Agency /- The Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute today announced that a Phase 3 clinical trial to assess the efficacy of the M72/AS01E tuberculosis vaccine candidate is now underway, with first doses given in South Africa, where TB takes a heavy toll.

Making vaccines accessible and affordable for communities in areas of high disease burden in the long-term is a priority for all trial partners. The Gates MRI has worked with a wide range of stakeholders, including communities around clinical trial sites, to guide the TB candidate vaccine to Phase 3.

At full capacity, the trial will include up to 20,000 participants, including people living with HIV, at up to 60 trial sites in seven countries — South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Kenya, Indonesia and Vietnam. Participants will receive either the investigational M72/AS01E vaccine or a placebo in what is known as a double-blind trial, meaning neither the trial participant nor the clinical investigators will know who receives vaccine or placebo.

“If effective, M72/AS01E could reinvigorate a global fight against TB that has been weakened by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Alemnew Dagnew, M.D., who leads development of M72/AS01E at the Gates MRI. “I am particularly excited to see this trial get underway because when I was working as a physician in Ethiopia, I saw first-hand what pulmonary TB does to communities — and a vaccine that could help prevent that from happening would be transformative.

South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

South Africa: African Games - South Africa Overtakes Nigeria On Medals TableWhile Team Nigeria added three silver and four bronze medals, it wasn't enough to maintain their second-place position.
Source: allafrica - 🏆 1. / 99 Read more »

Central Africa: Africa/Central Africa - the New Cold War Passes Through MercenariesIs the Central African Republic a 'Paradise of mercenaries'? The country has long been the scene of the intervention of various private military companies (PMCs), at least since March 2003, when François Bozizé took power in a coup supported by France against President Ange-Félix Patassé.
Source: allafrica - 🏆 1. / 99 Read more »

South Africa Emerges as America's Largest Trading Partner in AfricaSouth Africa has become America’s largest trading partner in Africa, with over $20-billion of two-way trade of goods. More than 600 American businesses now operate in South Africa. Africa's population is expected to grow significantly by 2050, presenting opportunities for investment. US Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen visited South Africa to strengthen ties between the two countries and continents.
Source: dailymaverick - 🏆 3. / 84 Read more »

Africa: Ghana, South Africa Formalise Multi-Sectoral Engagements At Bi-National CommissionThe President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has on behalf of the government and people of Ghana formalized engagements on education, health and mining under the Bi-National Commission.
Source: allafrica - 🏆 1. / 99 Read more »

South Africa: Taps Run Dry in Africa's Richest CityResidents of Africa's richest city, Johannesburg, are experiencing a severe water shortage in the middle of a summer heat wave.
Source: allafrica - 🏆 1. / 99 Read more »

South Africa's Best-Performing Municipalities Revealed in Good Governance Africa's ReportAccording to Good Governance Africa's latest Governance Performance Index (GPI) report, Swartland Local Municipality is the best-performing municipality in South Africa. The report also highlights the top-performing municipalities in different categories.
Source: CapeTownEtc - 🏆 17. / 63 Read more »