Essential Medicines News

“Inhaled Tuberculosis Vaccine More Effective than Traditional Shot in Study Using Experimental Animals,” Harvard School of Public Health Press Release, 12 March 2008.

A study by University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill researchers, Medicine in Need, the Aeras Global TB Vaccine Foundation, and Harvard University researchers has been published in the past issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. It shows the successful immunization of guinea pigs with the live attenuated tuberculosis vaccine Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG). The vaccine was rapidly dried and particles from a nanometer to a micrometer in length are then aerosolized. Scientists are hopeful that this technique will be useful in other bacterial and viral vaccines. Barry R. Bloom, Dean of the Harvard School of Public Health:

Tuberculosis is one of the most resistant and challenging diseases to protect against, and the successful results of aerosol delivery using nanoparticle technology offers a potentially new platform for immunization. Were the animal results here confirmed in human studies, this technology could be used not only for TB vaccines, but those protecting against other infectious diseases as well.

“UNC Proofs Inhaled TB Vaccine,” UNC School of Pharmacy News, 14 March 2008.

Tony Hickey, UNC Pharmacy professor in the Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics, and founder of Cirrus Pharmaceuticals and Oriel Therapeutics:

The real advantage is that this vaccine does not need to be refrigerated. It doesn’t require needles, syringes, and water like the injectable, and administering it is as easy as breathing in, making it ideal for use in developing countries.