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New Delhi, April 26, 2025 – Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, Chairperson of the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation and former Chief Scientist at the World Health Organization, has issued an urgent call for increased investment and innovation in tuberculosis (TB) vaccine development, especially for high-burden countries such as India.
Speaking at the World Health Summit (WHS) Regional Meeting during a panel on Asia Region TB Vaccine R&D Financing, Dr. Swaminathan highlighted the critical need for a new, effective TB vaccine to save millions of lives and bring substantial economic benefits to the region. She referenced the World Health Organization’s TB vaccine investment case, noting that a successful vaccine could avert deaths, reduce the need for prolonged treatments, prevent catastrophic healthcare costs, and boost GDP through improved public health outcomes.
“It’s a continuum-people get infected, some clear it, some develop active disease. But even subclinical TB carries a significant risk of mortality, and the outcomes worsen without early diagnosis or treatment,” Dr. Swaminathan explained.
Stalled Vaccine Pipeline and the Need for Decisive Action
Despite India’s notable contributions to TB vaccine research, Dr. Swaminathan expressed concern that the global TB vaccine pipeline remains stagnant, with several candidates stuck in early trial phases for over a decade. She called for decisive action to either advance these candidates or redirect resources, rather than allowing them to linger indefinitely.
A prominent example is the M72 vaccine candidate, currently in Phase 3 trials with backing from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Wellcome Trust. Dr. Swaminathan pointed out the high costs and lengthy timelines involved, noting, “It’s a $500 million project. But we cannot afford to spend that amount on every candidate. TB trials take years to reach endpoints, followed by data analysis, regulatory submissions, and scale-up”.
Lessons from COVID-19: Accelerating Vaccine Development
Drawing on her experience with the WHO Solidarity Trial during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Swaminathan emphasized that digital tools, international collaboration, and adaptive regulatory approaches can significantly compress vaccine development timelines. She cited the global COVID-19 response as proof that timelines can be shortened when the world acts in unison, stating, “We had 35 to 40 countries participating, and everything was done online. The cost was negligible. That model can work for TB too”.
She also praised India’s capacity for large-scale adult vaccination campaigns, as demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic, and urged stakeholders to apply similar urgency and innovation to TB vaccine rollout.
“COVID showed us that timelines can be compressed… Similarly, regulatory agencies came together during COVID. They didn’t take years to assess dossiers. Benchmarks were set. WHO created target product profiles, and global regulators aligned on efficacy and safety standards. Manufacturers even scaled up production before final efficacy results were available-governments absorbed that risk,” Dr. Swaminathan added.
A Call for Global Collaboration and Prioritization
Dr. Swaminathan highlighted inefficiencies in the current TB vaccine development system, advocating for a global mechanism to evaluate and prioritize the most promising candidates. She noted that companies often guard their own candidates, leading to suboptimal use of limited resources.
She concluded by urging policymakers, global health agencies, and vaccine developers to collaborate, invest, and rethink the approach to TB vaccine development and deployment. “It’s not just about science. It’s about saving lives-and doing it faster,” she said.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on statements and information provided by Dr. Soumya Swaminathan during the World Health Summit Regional Meeting, as reported by ET HealthWorld and related sources. The content is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical or investment advice. For more details, refer to the original source at ET HealthWorld.
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