27 April 2012 - Lelystad, The Netherlands and Rockville, USA - The Tuberculosis Vaccine Initiative (TBVI) and Aeras have signed a new memorandum of understanding to enhance and strengthen collaborative efforts to advance the world’s most promising tuberculosis (TB) vaccine candidates.
The collaboration between Aeras and TBVI will address significant scientific opportunities and challenges described in Tuberculosis Vaccines: A Strategic Blueprint for the Next Decade. This unified global strategy provides a comprehensive approach for developing and introducing safe and effective TB vaccines over the next decade.
"Without new TB vaccines, we cannot end this epidemic," said Jim Connolly, President and CEO of Aeras. "TB vaccine development is particularly complex and costly, and to achieve our mission it is critical to bring together the best and brightest minds in the field. Aeras is looking forward to expanding our collaboration with TBVI, whose role has been pivotal in fueling the quality of research in Europe and the development of promising new vaccine candidates."
Twelve TB vaccines are currently in clinical trials and many more are in preclinical development. To further this progress, TBVI and Aeras have committed to working together on a series of goals aimed at overcoming major scientific and resource roadblocks to developing new vaccines. They will also advise each other on vaccines in development and streamline the process of candidate selection and review in order to move vaccine candidates through the preclinical and clinical phases of development.
"Aeras has deep experience with preclinical and clinical evaluation of TB vaccine candidates and expertise in identifying promising vaccines," said Dr. Jelle Thole, Director of TBVI. "This provides important added value to our know-how. Together we are able to develop vaccines as cost-effectively and efficiently as possible, moving seamlessly from early laboratory research through clinical development to licensure, to deliver vaccines to communities that need their protection."