Preclinical animal studies indicate that this novel vaccine provides over 20 times the protective efficacy of both the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine—the current standard for tuberculosis prevention—and other foreign-developed tuberculosis vaccines.
This new vaccine, which China fully owns in terms of intellectual property rights, is designed to serve as a universal immunization option for individuals of all ages. Researchers believe it has the potential to significantly reduce both tuberculosis infections and overall disease incidence.
Moving forward, the research and development team will conduct in-depth studies to determine optimal immunization strategies, modes of administration, and the vaccine’s adaptability to different patient conditions.
Pang Yu, head of the hospital’s Bacteriological Immunology Department, provided further details to the newspaper about ongoing advancements in tuberculosis detection. Alongside the vaccine trial, the hospital has introduced an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered diagnostic model and a new rapid detection method for tuberculosis based on tongue swabs.
This AI-driven model enables remote, non-invasive early detection of pulmonary diseases, including tuberculosis, offering a promising alternative to traditional diagnostic methods. While still in the preclinical stage, the model is expected to enhance early diagnosis capabilities. Meanwhile, the rapid tongue-swab-based tuberculosis detection method is slated for nationwide rollout beginning in July.