The TuBerculosis Vaccine Initiative (TBVI) is a non-profit foundation that facilitates the discovery and development of new, safe and effective tuberculosis (TB) vaccines that are accessible and affordable for all people.
Globally, TB remains one of the deadliest infectious diseases. “Existing vaccines can protect young children, but as people get older, the disease manifests differently, often in the lungs,” explains Marit Holleman, Knowledge Exchange & Project Manager at TBVI. “In Western Europe, we have effective treatment. However, these treatments cost time and money, which is not as readily available in large parts of the world. At the same time, there is not much industry traction for TB vaccines, because they are simply not expected to be very profitable. That is why supporting the development of vaccines is so important.”
As a non-profit organization, TBVI facilitates research and development by connecting scientists, research institutes, funders, and industry partners worldwide. “We don’t have our own laboratories,” says Marit Holleman, “but we bring together the knowledge, expertise, and infrastructure needed to move vaccine candidates forward.”
TBVI’s ambition is to support the entire vaccine pipeline. “We focus on existing or expected gaps. That means we support early scientific discovery, mainly by collaborating with European universities and academic institutions, but that we also facilitate clinical research in regions where TB is most prevalent.”
Looking ahead, TBVI is increasingly focussing on the implementation of vaccines. “A vaccine only makes a difference if it actually reaches people,” says Elly van Riet, Senior Scientist at TBVI. “That is why we not only commit to the production of TB vaccines, from idea to product, but also support distribution and actual use as best we can.”
Watch the video about the Tuberculosis Vaccine Development Pathway
The need for continuous investment in research
One of the greatest challenges in TB vaccine development is scientific uncertainty. “For TB, we still don’t know exactly when someone is protected,” says Van Riet. “There is no simple marker you can measure in the blood, so the only way to know if a vaccine works is through long and complex clinical trials.”
Several vaccine candidates are currently in late-stage trials, but TBVI stresses the importance of keeping the full pipeline active. “You need to continue investing in early-stage research,” adds Holleman, “because if a late-stage candidate fails, or leaves room for improvement, we want there to be new ideas.”
Focussing on working together
Collaboration is why TBVI joined Global Health Hub (GHH) as a partner. “Our work is about working together and aligning different types of expertise,” says Van Riet. “And that is exactly what GHH also does: bringing parties together to become stronger collectively.”
Through GHH, TBVI hopes to broaden its connections beyond the immediate TB vaccine field. “We are interested in learning from organizations that work on policy, access, and implementation,” Van Riet explains. “At the same time, we contribute tools and experience in coordinating complex international collaborations and keeping an overview of where gaps exist in the development chain. We believe TBVI complements the partner network well.”