MVA85A (modified vaccinia Ankara 85A) is a vaccine against tuberculosis developed by researchers led by Professor Helen McShane at Oxford University.[1] This vaccine produces higher levels of long-lasting cellular immunity when used together with the older TB vaccine BCG.[2] Phase I clinical trials were completed and then phase II clinical trials took place in South Africa.[3][4] Efficacy trials ran in parallel from 2009 to 2019.[5]
Results released in February 2013, were described as "disappointing", showing only a statistically insignificant prevention rate in infants.[6]
Results published in 2015, cast doubt on the efficacy of the vaccine.[7]
In 2018, a BMJ investigation raised concerns about the ethics of an efficacy trial in South African infants, particularly because of results from earlier animal trials such as a study with macaques at Porton Down.[8] One response argued that 14 prior human trials showed a safety signal, that regulators were aware of the primate trial and decided to continue, and that three subsequent investigations found no evidence of wrong-doing.[9] Another response by Ian Orme questioned the critique of animal models.[10]
References
- ^ "Professor Helen McShane FMedSci FRCP". Nuffield Department of Medicine, Medical Sciences Division. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
- ^ McShane H, Pathan AA, Sander CR, et al. (2004). "Recombinant modified vaccinia virus Ankara expressing antigen 85A boosts BCG primed and naturally acquired anti-microbial immunity in humans". Nat Med. 10 (11): 1240–44. doi:10.1038/nm1128. PMID 15502839.
- ^ Hawkridge T, Scriba TJ, Gelderbloem S, et al. (2008). "Safety and immunogenicity of a new tuberculosis vaccine, MVA85A, in healthy adults in South Africa". J Infect Dis. 198 (4): 544–52. doi:10.1086/590185. PMC 2822902. PMID 18582195.
- ^ Ibanga H, Brookes R, Hill P, Owiafe P, Fletcher H, Lienhardt C, Hill A, Adegbola R, McShane H (2006). "Early clinical trials with a new tuberculosis vaccine, MVA85A, in tuberculosis-endemic countries: issues in study design". Lancet Infect Dis. 6 (8): 522–8. doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(06)70552-7. PMID 16870530.
- ^ McShane H (23 September 2010). "Improving BCG with MVA85A: An update on clinical trials" (PDF). The Jenner Institute. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 August 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
- ^ Walsh, Fergus (4 February 2013). "Tuberculosis vaccine hopes dashed". BBC News. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
- ^ "Effects of MVA85A vaccine on tuberculosis challenge in animals: systematic review". Ije.oxfordjournals.org. Retrieved 2015-09-09.
- ^ Cohen, Deborah (2018-01-10). "Oxford TB vaccine study calls into question selective use of animal data". BMJ. 360: j5845. doi:10.1136/bmj.j5845. ISSN 0959-8138. PMID 29321165.
- ^ Ginsberg, Ann; Shea, Jacqui; Tameris, Michele; Hatherill, Mark; Hill, Adrian; McShane, Helen (2018-01-26). "Helen McShane and colleagues reply to Deborah Cohen". BMJ (Letters). 360: k236. doi:10.1136/bmj.k236. ISSN 0959-8138. PMID 29374008.
- ^ Orme, Ian M. (2019-07-01). "Re: Helen McShane and colleagues reply to Deborah Cohen". The BMJ (Letters).
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