BCG (Vaccine) Inhalation Powder (BCGIP)

Our goal is to replace existing injectable BCG with inhalation powder (BCGIP) for use in newborn infants.
The aim is to demonstrate that spray-dried BCG, delivered via the pulmonary route is safe, enhances clinical efficacy, and supports the replacement of the current injectable BCG vaccine.

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Intradermal injection Inhalation
2a
2b

Only up to 80% effective in preventing disseminated TB (miliary and meningeal) in young children and providing protective immune response up until 5 to 10 years after infant immunization Enhanced clinical efficacy
Widely variable in efficacy (range 0-80%) when preventing pulmonary TB in adults Reduce the base cost to healthcare
Stored at 2–8°C (refrigeration) Room temperature stability

Future applications could be the use of the spray drying process to formulate new TB vaccines with improved stability for inhalation or reconstitution for injection could create potential for:

  • Increased efficacy of mucosal delivery (needle-free)
  • “Boosting” scenarios
  • Better efficacy in adults