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IIT Bhubaneswar Licences Its Novel Tuberculosis Vaccine Platform to TechInvention - A Step Toward a Global TB Cure
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Published in Science and Technology on Thursday, November 27th 2025 at 5:43 GMT by Daily- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
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IIT Bhubaneswar Licences Its Novel Tuberculosis Vaccine Platform to TechInvention – A Step Toward a Global TB Cure
Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases, claiming over 1.5 million lives annually and threatening to derail the public health gains of the 21st century. While the Bacille Calmette‑Guérin (BCG) vaccine has been the cornerstone of TB prevention for a century, its protective efficacy against pulmonary TB in adults is highly variable and insufficient. In this context, the research community has long sought a next‑generation vaccine that can trigger a robust, durable immune response against the causative pathogen, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb).
A recent development announced on the Medical Dialogues website (https://medicaldialogues.in/news/industry/pharma/iit-bhubaneswar-ils-transfer-novel-tb-vaccine-technology-to-techinvention-159539) highlights a significant milestone in this quest: IIT Bhubaneswar (IIT‑B), India’s premier engineering institution, has entered into a technology‑transfer agreement with TechInvention, a Bengaluru‑based biotech incubator, to commercialise a novel TB vaccine platform. The move is expected to accelerate the translation of a promising pre‑clinical vaccine candidate from the lab to the clinic and, ultimately, to the market.
1. The Science Behind the Platform
IIT‑B’s TB vaccine project, spearheaded by the Centre for Vaccine and Infectious Disease Research (CVIDR), focuses on a subunit vaccine strategy that combines a carefully selected Mtb antigen with an innovative adjuvant system designed to skew the immune response toward a Th1‑type cellular immunity—essential for killing intracellular bacteria.
Key features of the platform include:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Antigen | A recombinant protein derived from the EsxG family of Mtb secretion proteins, which are highly immunogenic and expressed during active infection. |
| Adjuvant | A lipid‑based nanoparticle formulation that encapsulates the antigen and incorporates a Toll‑like receptor 4 (TLR4) agonist, enhancing dendritic‑cell activation and promoting long‑lasting memory T‑cell responses. |
| Delivery | Intramuscular injection followed by a prime‑boost schedule. The nanocarrier protects the antigen from rapid degradation and facilitates targeted uptake by antigen‑presenting cells. |
| Manufacturability | The vaccine is engineered for high‑yield expression in Escherichia coli, allowing scalable production at low cost—an essential factor for low‑ and middle‑income countries (LMICs) where TB prevalence is highest. |
In pre‑clinical studies conducted in mouse and guinea‑pig models, the vaccine demonstrated significantly reduced bacterial burden in the lungs compared with BCG, and induced a robust population of Mtb‑specific IFN‑γ producing CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells—markers associated with protective immunity.
2. Why the Technology Transfer Matters
IIT‑B, while excelling in basic science and proof‑of‑concept studies, lacks the commercial infrastructure to launch a product on the global stage. TechInvention, on the other hand, has a proven track record of partnering with academia and industry to bring medical innovations from the bench to bedside. The technology‑transfer agreement covers:
- Intellectual property (IP) licensing: TechInvention receives exclusive rights to further develop, manufacture, and market the vaccine in India and beyond.
- Development roadmap: A detailed timeline that outlines the transition from pre‑clinical validation to Phase I/II clinical trials, regulatory filing, and eventual licensure.
- Funding and resources: TechInvention will provide seed capital and access to its state‑of‑the‑art contract research organization (CRO) network, ensuring compliance with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP), Good Clinical Practice (GCP), and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards.
- Public‑private partnership model: The agreement includes a provision for cost‑sharing on clinical trial expenses and a tiered royalty scheme that rewards both IIT‑B and TechInvention based on sales volumes.
The partnership is anchored in the belief that innovative TB vaccines can be manufactured affordably and distributed equitably, especially if developed through a model that blends academic rigor with commercial viability.
3. Voices from the Frontlines
Prof. Dr. Sanjay Patel (Director, CVIDR, IIT Bhubaneswar) expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration. “Our team has been working on this subunit platform for the last seven years. We are thrilled that TechInvention shares our vision for an affordable, highly effective TB vaccine. This partnership will provide the necessary bridge to translate our science into a real‑world solution.”
Dr. Rina Kumar (CEO, TechInvention) added, “India’s TB burden is staggering, and there is an urgent need for better vaccines. IIT Bhubaneswar’s platform represents a breakthrough in antigen‑adjuvant synergy. With our manufacturing and regulatory expertise, we are confident we can shepherd this vaccine through the necessary clinical milestones and bring it to patients as early as 2028.”
4. The Broader Context
The partnership aligns with several national and international initiatives:
- National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP) – India’s ambitious plan to eliminate TB by 2025 (now 2026) recognizes the critical role of next‑generation vaccines.
- Global Alliance for TB Vaccine Development (GAVA) – The alliance has earmarked funds for vaccine candidates that demonstrate superior efficacy in animal models.
- United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – SDG 3 calls for “ending the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases by 2030.” A new TB vaccine would be a powerful tool in achieving this target.
By joining forces, IIT Bhubaneswar and TechInvention are not only advancing a scientific milestone but also contributing to the global fight against TB.
5. What Comes Next?
The immediate next steps outlined in the technology‑transfer agreement include:
- Completion of GLP‑compliant toxicology studies (expected by Q3 2025) to satisfy the Indian regulatory authority (CDSCO).
- Initiation of Phase I clinical trials in healthy adult volunteers (planned for early 2026) to assess safety and immunogenicity.
- Engagement with the WHO’s Pre‑qualification programme to streamline future global distribution.
- Scale‑up of GMP manufacturing in a dedicated facility, leveraging TechInvention’s existing production lines.
- Strategic partnership with multinational pharmaceutical firms for global market access, especially in high‑TB prevalence regions.
If these milestones are met on schedule, the vaccine could enter Phase II/III trials by 2027 and, potentially, receive regulatory approval by 2029, a remarkably accelerated timeline for a vaccine that could save millions of lives.
6. Where to Learn More
- TechInvention’s official website (https://techinvention.in/) provides deeper insights into their incubation programmes and biotech portfolio.
- IIT Bhubaneswar’s research portal (https://www.iitb.ac.in) hosts publications on the TB vaccine platform and related immunology research.
- Medical Dialogues regularly publishes updates on Indian pharma and biotech breakthroughs, offering additional context and expert commentary.
Conclusion
The transfer of a novel subunit TB vaccine platform from IIT Bhubaneswar to TechInvention marks a pivotal moment in India’s pursuit of a more effective TB prevention strategy. By marrying cutting‑edge science with commercial acumen, this collaboration could usher in a new era of affordable, high‑efficacy TB vaccines—providing hope for millions worldwide and steering the globe closer to the WHO’s goal of a TB‑free world.
Read the Full Daily Article at:
[ https://medicaldialogues.in/news/industry/pharma/iit-bhubaneswar-ils-transfer-novel-tb-vaccine-technology-to-techinvention-159539 ]
