TB vaccine development deal signed

A new research deal, aiming to develop and market a vaccine against TB, has been signed between sanofi pasteur and the Statens Serum Institut of Denmark (SSI).

The collaboration allows sanofi Pasteur to use certain licenses to SSI technology within the development of a tuberculosis vaccine, which the company will then manufacture.

"This agreement is a milestone for sanofi pasteur," said Wayne Pisano, president of sanofi pasteur.

"The current medical arsenal is inadequate for fighting tuberculosis. Improved vaccines are desperately needed if we are to succeed in controlling this disease. Sanofi pasteur and SSI are joining forces to develop a vaccine that may have a major impact on global health by preventing a disease that currently infects one person in the world every second."

The BCG jab (Bacille Calmette Guerin), currently the only TB vaccine used in the world today, was developed over 80 years ago.

sanofi Pasteur is also currently working to develop a vaccine against malaria.

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