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ILS and IIT Bhubaneswar Partner to Accelerate Next-Gen Tuberculosis Vaccine

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  Published in Science and Technology on Sunday, November 23rd 2025 at 0:13 GMT by The New Indian Express

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ILS and IIT Bhubaneswar Join Forces to Push a New Tuberculosis Vaccine into the Pipeline

Published: 23 Nov 2025 – The Sunday Standard, New Indian Express

Tuberculosis (TB) is still the number‑one killer among infectious diseases worldwide, with an estimated 10 million new cases and 1.5 million deaths in 2023 alone. India carries roughly a third of that burden, accounting for 1.7 million new cases and 0.43 million deaths. The only licensed vaccine, BCG, provides only partial protection, especially in adults, and the world has long sought a more effective immunization strategy. In a landmark announcement on 23 November 2025, the Indian Life Sciences (ILS) Institute and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar revealed a new, multi‑disciplinary collaboration aimed at developing a next‑generation TB vaccine.

A Powerful Partnership

The collaboration brings together two of India’s most respected research establishments. ILS, a world‑class institute headquartered in Hyderabad, is renowned for its expertise in vaccine formulation, adjuvant development, and immunogenicity profiling. IIT Bhubaneswar, known for its cutting‑edge facilities in molecular biology, bioinformatics, and translational science, will provide state‑of‑the‑art biosafety level‑3 (BSL‑3) laboratories, animal housing, and a robust data analytics platform.

“We are excited to combine ILS’s vaccine‑development know‑how with IIT Bhubaneswar’s advanced research infrastructure,” said Dr. Suresh Kumar, Director of the Vaccine Research Unit at ILS. “This partnership will accelerate the pipeline from bench to bedside and bring us closer to a TB vaccine that can be deployed in high‑burden settings.”

The Vaccine Candidate

The joint team is working on a recombinant subunit vaccine that utilizes a mosaic of conserved Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens identified through bioinformatics analysis of global TB strains. The antigens are engineered into a viral‑vector platform (modified adenovirus) that has shown strong immunogenicity in pre‑clinical TB vaccine studies worldwide. In addition to the viral vector, the team is developing a novel synthetic adjuvant—an immunostimulatory nanoparticle that targets dendritic cells—to enhance the cellular immune response.

The approach is informed by the failures of previous candidates such as M72/AS01E and RUTI. By selecting antigens that are present across diverse lineages and focusing on a robust Th1‑type cellular response, the researchers aim to achieve both sterilizing immunity and prevention of disease progression.

Roadmap and Milestones

1. Pre‑clinical Phase (2025‑2027)
   In‑vitro assessment of antigen expression and vaccine safety in human cell lines.
   Mouse and guinea‑pig challenge studies to evaluate protective efficacy and immune correlates.

2. Phase I Clinical Trial (2028‑2029)
   First‑in‑human safety and immunogenicity study in a small cohort of healthy volunteers in India.
   Use of the National Institute of Virology’s biosafety facilities for rigorous monitoring.

3. Phase II/III Expansion (2030‑2033)
   Large‑scale efficacy trials in high‑TB‑prevalence districts of West Bengal and Odisha, with collaboration from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and state health departments.
   Long‑term surveillance for safety and durability of protection.

The consortium anticipates that the vaccine could reach the market within a decade if the pre‑clinical and early‑phase results are positive.

Funding and Institutional Support

The project has secured a combined grant of ₹50 crore (approximately $6.7 million) from the ICMR and the Department of Biotechnology, supplemented by a strategic investment of ₹10 crore from a private biotech partner. The funds cover vaccine production, pre‑clinical studies, and the initial phases of human trials.

“Financial backing is just the first step,” said Dr. Anil Sharma, Lead Immunologist at IIT Bhubaneswar. “Our success will hinge on seamless collaboration across multiple disciplines and institutions.”

Broader Impact and Global Context

The new vaccine, if successful, could significantly reduce TB incidence in India and globally. It would also provide a model for rapid vaccine development against other intracellular pathogens. The collaboration underscores India’s growing leadership in biomedical research and its commitment to addressing the nation’s most pressing health challenges.

The announcement came amid a series of updates from the World Health Organization (WHO) highlighting the urgent need for new TB vaccines, particularly in the wake of COVID‑19’s strain on health systems. In a WHO briefing, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that “the next breakthrough in TB prevention could be just a vaccine away, and India’s research community is at the forefront of this effort.”

Voices from the Front

In an interview following the announcement, Dr. Kumar emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary science: “TB is a complex disease. We need immunologists, molecular biologists, data scientists, and clinicians working in lockstep to overcome it.”
Dr. Sharma added, “The local partnerships—especially with community health workers in high‑risk districts—will be crucial for trial recruitment and eventual vaccine rollout.”

Looking Ahead

The collaboration between ILS and IIT Bhubaneswar marks a pivotal moment in the fight against TB. By combining cutting‑edge technology with robust research infrastructure, the partnership aims to deliver a vaccine that can protect millions and ultimately reduce the global TB burden. As the world watches, India’s next‑generation TB vaccine could become a beacon of hope for millions who live in the shadow of this age‑old scourge.