March 24 marks World Tuberculosis (TB) Day and brings a refreshing breakthrough in TB control! Leading the charge is Dr Li Liang, vice president of Beijing Chest Hospital affiliated with Capital Medical University, who recently highlighted persistent challenges – from delayed diagnoses to limited treatment options and an urgent need for effective vaccines.
In an exciting twist, a team from Beijing Chest Hospital, in collaboration with Chinese biotech firms, has developed a promising new mRNA TB vaccine. Early animal studies show that this candidate outperformed the traditional BCG vaccine by over 20-fold in efficacy. Demonstrating true commitment, Dr Li stepped up as the first volunteer in the clinical trials, showing his confidence in accelerating global TB control efforts.
Dr Li pointed out that the comprehensive healthcare framework on the Chinese mainland – uniting community, county, and national-level efforts – has been instrumental in advancing TB prevention, diagnosis, and treatment protocols. Together with innovative technologies like this new vaccine, there’s renewed hope in curbing TB transmission and meeting the World Health Organization's goal to end the epidemic by 2035.
This breakthrough is not only a win for medical science, but also a source of inspiration for health enthusiasts, young entrepreneurs, students, and global citizens alike. It’s like watching a real-life superhero moment—scientists are assembling to take on one of the world's oldest challenges, one shot at a time! 🚀💉
As we commemorate World TB Day, all eyes are on this groundbreaking trial, which may soon change the game in global TB control.
Reference(s):
Health Talk: Challenges and breakthroughs in tuberculosis control
cgtn.com
