Biofabri's Tuberculosis Vaccine Aims for Universal, Affordable Profile

A tuberculosis vaccine being manufactured by Biofabri, a company within the Zendal group, is being designed to work in people of all ages, require only one dose, keep well without complex storage and remain affordable, according to Faro de Vigo. The Spanish newspaper reported that Carlos Martín, a microbiologist and professor at the University of Zaragoza, presented the project in a closing address at the 13th Congress of the Spanish Vaccination Association (AEV), held in Vigo. Biofabri has been involved in producing the candidate, known as MTBVAC, since 2008, the paper reported.

Why it matters

Tuberculosis remains one of the deadliest infectious diseases worldwide. According to figures cited by Faro de Vigo, it caused 1.23 million deaths and 10.7 million cases in 2024. The only existing vaccine, BCG, was developed more than a century ago. It gives strong protection to infants against the most severe forms of the disease, but its effectiveness in adolescents and adults is limited — and those age groups play a central role in spreading the infection.

That gap is what MTBVAC is intended to close. The developers are pursuing a product that could be given to anyone, in a single shot, without demanding the cold-chain conditions that complicate distribution in low-resource settings, and at a price health systems can sustain.

Where the candidate stands

Human trials of MTBVAC began in 2012, and the vaccine is now in advanced stages of testing in newborns, adolescents and adults, according to Faro de Vigo. It is one of 18 candidates in development globally, the paper reported, with 17 others also under investigation.

Martín told the congress that having an approved vaccine by roughly 2029 or 2030 is a "fairly realistic" goal, as reported by Faro de Vigo. The World Health Organization has set 2050 as the target for eliminating tuberculosis. Reaching that, Martín noted, would require a vaccine that is between 70% and 80% effective and can be administered universally — criteria the Biofabri-backed candidate is being built around.

The Galician outlet Atlántico also covered the Vigo company's role in the project, describing it as nearing completion of a universal tuberculosis vaccine. The Spanish Vaccination Association's own coverage highlighted the single-dose and easy-storage features of the Spanish-developed shot.

What to watch

The path from late-stage trials to regulatory approval is the next milestone to track, with the developers' stated window of 2029 to 2030 dependent on trial results and the review process.