Scientific Advances May End Tuberculosis Outbreaks

The 2019 Lancet Commission on Tuberculosis laid out an optimistic vision for how to build a tuberculosis-free world through smart investments based on sound science and shared responsibility.

Since then, several significant strides have been made toward ending tuberculosis, according to a Review published by The Lancet on September 13, 2023.

With excellent short-course preventive regimens and several late-stage vaccine candidates, tuberculosis prevention is also on the cusp of a revolution.

These clinical tools are needed as more than 7 million people worldwide have died of tuberculosis in the past five years.

Still, much more can be done to implement the Commission's recommendations fully.

For example, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Wellcome pledged $550 million to support late-stage clinical trials for a new tuberculosis vaccine. The M72/AS01E (M72) subunit vaccine candidate is conducting phase 3 clinical research.

And in the United States, the 100-year-old BCG vaccine is considered for people who meet specific criteria.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, BCG vaccination is considered for children under specific conditions.

The CDC reported in March 2023 that TB cases increased by 5% in 2022, with 60 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and territories provisionally reporting 8,300 TB cases.