University of Cape Town: New Modelling Study Shows Impact of Late Stage TB Vaccines Depends on Their Ability to Prevent Infectious, Asymptomatic TB

4 March 2026

University of Cape Town news story

New research has found that the real-world impact of late-stage TB vaccines may depend heavily on how well they protect against infectious, asymptomatic TB.

Up to half of all people with active TB may be asymptomatic, meaning a large proportion of transmission could be coming from individuals who do not yet feel ill. This “silent reservoir” is a key challenge for global TB control efforts — and a critical consideration for vaccine development.

Two promising TB vaccine candidates, M72/AS01_E and MTBVAC, are currently in Phase 3 trials. While both have shown encouraging results so far, their long-term population impact remains uncertain. This study set out to better understand that potential by examining how vaccine impact might vary depending on which stages of TB disease they prevent.

Read the full news story here.

Source: University of Cape Town