TB Clinical Trials Begin In South Africa

Written by OJ Fagbire

Sunday, 13 May 2007

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Crucell, a biotechnology company based in the Netherlands, and AERAS, a global organization dedicated to the fighting of tuberculosis around the world and SATVI, the South African Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative recently made it known that Phase I of the clinical trials for a new tuberculosis vaccine would be starting shortly; approximately a half year after the United States started a similar study.

Dr. Jaap Goudsmit is an officer of Crucell and he had this to say. "We are very proud that Crucell's technologies are playing a key role in the search and development of a much-needed TB vaccine. We also feel honored to collaborate with Aeras and SATVI on this important mission."

Dr. Jerald C. Sadoff is the CEO of AERAS and he had similar things to say. "The world desperately needs a new TB vaccine, and this clinical trial, in a region severely impacted by TB, is an important step in Aeras' mission to develop these crucial vaccines. Aeras is delighted to be working with the excellent researchers at Crucell and SATVI. We are grateful to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their financial support of this trial and our vaccine development efforts."

Three groups will be involved in the study, which will be a double blind experiment. It will be randomized sample study with a control group and dose escalation over time. Involvement in the study is on a volunteer basis and 30 adults will be used in the final results.

The Principal Investigator for the study, Dr. Gregory Hussey, made this comment,
"We are pleased to be playing such an important role in the global effort to develop new vaccines against TB. In the process of conducting this trial, we are advancing the development of a new TB vaccine, expanding scientific capacity, and building awareness of the need for new TB vaccines."

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