Scientists Create Tuberculosis Vaccine That Is Inhaled

March 18, 2008 7:22 a.m. EST

Chapel Hill, N.C. (AHN) - A tuberculosis vaccine that can be inhaled has been developed and successfully tested by scientists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) and Harvard University.

The dry powder Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is as effective as the traditional injectable TB vaccine but it is easier to administer using an inhaler and easier to store.

According to Eurekalert.org, Dr. Tony Hickey, the leader of the scientists at the UNC School of Pharmacy, said, "The real advantage is that this vaccine does not need to be refrigerated. It also doesn't require needles, syringes and water like the injectable vaccine, and administering it is as easy as breathing in, making it ideal for use in developing countries."

Traditional freeze dried TB vaccines require refrigerated storage and transportation. This vaccine also needs clean water to be reconstituted before injected to a patient.

In contrast, the inhaled BCG vaccine is spray dried instead of freeze dried. In this process, the liquid version of the vaccine is sprayed through a heated gas such as nitrogen to create a powder. The resulting dry powder vaccine does not need refrigeration or water for it to be used.

The technology used in making the dry powder, inhaled TB vaccine can be adopted in making similarly formulated vaccines for other diseases.

Test results of the vaccine are published in last week's issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.