EMaBS TB Vaccine Study

ChAdOx1 85A is an adenoviral vaccine based on a vector that is a chimpanzee adenovirus isolate Y25 expressing the M.tb antigen 85A. Adenoviruses are attractive candidates for use as viral vectors and have been used as vaccine vectors for a number of conditions; however, the use has been limited by the high level of anti-vector immunity present in humans in whom adenovirus is a ubiquitous infection. This has led to the consideration of simian adenoviruses, which are not known to cause pathology or illness in humans and to which the prevalence of anti-vector antibodies is low. The ChAdOx1 vector has been developed by the University of Oxford and been used with different inserts for vaccination, for example the vaccine ChAdOx1 NP+M1 has demonstrated an excellent safety profile in the Influenza trial FLU004. A BCG - ChAdOx1 85A - MVA85A prime boost regime is more protective than BCG alone in mice.

Modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) is a highly-attenuated strain of vaccinia virus which cannot replicate in human cells. It is known to be highly immunogenic in UK adults but has been less immunogenic in African children and infants. It is suitable for use as a viral vector in a prime-boost regime in new vaccine development. It has an excellent safety record as it was administered intradermally to approximately 120,000 people during the smallpox eradication campaign, and has since been used in numerous clinical trials of candidate vaccines against viral, mycobacterial and protozoal infections.

BCG is the only vaccine currently approved for use against Tuberculosis.