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Global TB vaccine R&D roadmap

The purpose of the Global roadmap for research and development (R&D) of tuberculosis (TB) vaccines is to provide global stakeholders – researchers, funders, industry, regulatory authorities, policy decision-makers and civil society – with actionable priorities to guide their activities. The roadmap primarily focuses on developing and delivering affordable and effective vaccines for use in low- and middle income countries with a high incidence of TB, in line with the World Health Organisation (WHO) goals outlined below. However, such vaccines may also be useful to protect high-risk populations or groups in high-income/low incidence countries. The roadmap integrates and aligns strategic planning and innovation towards a shared vision with associated short-, medium- and long-term priorities for global TB vaccine development. The roadmap covers the entire R&D chain, with an emphasis on late-stage development and implementation.

Scoping Community Interventions to Support New TB Vaccine Introduction: From Grassroots Partnerships to Global Policymaking

To assess the role of communities and civil society in shaping TB vaccine introduction policies, implementation and equitable access. Aim 1: Map the structures, networks, and major players active in TB civil society and overlay these with the policy pipeline for new TB vaccines. Aim 1: Map the structures, networks, and major players active in TB civil society and overlay these with the policy pipeline for new TB vaccines. Aim 2: work with members of the regional community advisory boards (rCABs) established with support from the USAID-funded SMART4TB project to produce country policy portraits illustrating how TB and immunization policy is made in selected countries and the points where community and civil society actors can intervene. Aim 3: work with the rCAB in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) region to explore interventions by community and civil society to ensure equitable access to new TB vaccines. All three Aims will be completed in relation to the ECVP and the Global Framework for Country Introduction of New TB Vaccines.

Tuberculosis Vaccine Accelerator Council

In January 2023, WHO’s Director-General announced plans to establish a TB vaccine accelerator Council to facilitate the development, testing, authorization, and use of new TB vaccines, drawing on lessons learned from the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The establishment meeting of the Council took place on 20 September 2023, on the occasion of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, in the lead up to the Second United Nations High-level Meeting on TB.The Council is anticipated to work in multiple ways. These includeidentifying needs for, and types of innovative sustainable financial solutions, as well as partnerships between the public, private and philanthropic sectors that can expedite the translation of science into TB vaccines, and ensure their equitable access once available; identifying market solutions to incentivize TB vaccine development, and to ensure that the R&D ecosystem is positioned to rapidly manufacture and distribute vaccines equitably and at scale, once they are available; and advocating with decision makers in the public, private, philanthropy and other relevant sectors to strengthen commitment and concerted action to develop and expand access to novel effective TB vaccines, including through political platforms such as the African Union, ASEAN, BRICS, G20, G7 and others.

Preparing the landscape for TB vaccines: South Africa’s strategic planning

The South African TB Think Tank is a national collaboration of TB stakeholders, including researchers, policymakers, clinicians, and civil society. Chaired by the Chief Director of the National TB Programme (NTP), members consolidate TB research through several technical task teams, providing evidenced-based policy recommendations to the Department of Health. To support the national TB vaccine initiative, the TB Think Tank provided recommendations for the recently released NTP Strategic Plan, 2023-28

Financing and policy innovation to advance TB vaccines through licensure: A G20 policy proposal

The authors developed two T20 policy briefs proposing recommendations to enhance G20 leadership and bring TB vaccines through licensure: Investment Toolbox to Advance TB Vaccine R&D through Joint Action (2023); and Elevating Leadership of HBC G20 States in TB Vaccine R&D and Delivery (2024). The briefs were informed by extensive literature research and aligned with global initiatives for TB and TB vaccine R&D.

Global TB vaccine partnership

The Global Tuberculosis Vaccine Partnership (GTBVP) is a forum for key stakeholders in TB vaccine R&D to identify and address barriers impeding TB vaccine R&D and to discuss R&D priorities in order to help inform funding decisions
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