CDC HIV/Hepatitis/STD/TB Prevention News Update 10/22/2008 _TB vaccineSOUTH AFRICA: Scientists to Test TB Vaccine in Cape Town Business Day (South Africa) (10.20.08)::Tamar Kahn Local researchers are enrolling adult volunteers in Cape Town in a phase II trial of a potential TB vaccine. The experimental vaccine, found safe in one smaller US trial, was developed by the Dutch pharmaceutical firm Crucell and the not-for-profit Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation. The University of Cape Town Lung Institute and the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Institute will begin immunizations within the next few weeks. The trial of the Aeras 402/Crucell Ad35 vaccine will involve 82 adults currently being treated for TB or who have recently had TB. A separate trial in Kenya will test the safety of the vaccine in healthy adults, all of whom previously received the Bacille-Calmette Gu้rin TB vaccine and some of whom have had TB. BCG protects against meningitis and disseminated TB, which attacks organs like the stomach or bones, but does not protect against TB of the lungs. There are many potential uses for a new TB vaccine, said Jerald Sadoff, Aeras president and CEO. Therefore, it is important to determine a candidates safety and immune responses in those who have already been exposed or have had active disease. Cape Town was chosen as a site for its high TB burden and good research infrastructure, said Sean Bennett, Aeras clinical project physician. Posted by : chpantip , E-mail : (chpantip@medicine.psu.ac.th) , Date : 2008-10-23 , Time : 09:26:07 , From IP : 172.29.3.68 |
