China Takes a Giant Leap in TB Fight: mRNA Vaccine and AI Diagnosis Enter Clinical Stage

Focusing on the roots of eradicating tuberculosis (TB), China has launched clinical trials for a self-developed mRNA-based TB vaccine, marking a potential breakthrough in global public health. Unveiled at Beijing Chest Hospital, the novel vaccine has shown extraordinary promise in preclinical animal studies, boasting a protective efficacy over 20 times higher than the traditional Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine and other international counterparts.

What sets this development apart is that the vaccine is backed by independent intellectual property rights, enabling its use across all age groups while potentially slashing TB infection and incidence rates. According to Pang Yu, head of the hospital’s bacteriological immunology department, the next phase will focus on refining immunization strategies and delivery methods.

In a dual breakthrough, the hospital has also introduced an AI-powered diagnosis model and a tongue swab-based rapid detection method for TB bacteria. The AI model enables non-invasive, remote early diagnosis of pulmonary diseases, including TB, while the detection method is slated for nationwide rollout starting in July.

Together, these innovations represent a bold new chapter in China’s fight against TB; one that could redefine diagnostics and prevention on a global scale.