A new report details the outcomes of a workshop convened by IAVI at the 12th EDCTP Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, to discuss the financing of tuberculosis (TB) vaccine research and development (R&D). The workshop brought together African stakeholders to address the challenge of insufficient funding, particularly for late-stage clinical trials, which is a major barrier to bringing new TB vaccines to market. The discussions highlighted the importance of integrating African perspectives and data into R&D investments to ensure future TB vaccines are not only developed with the continent’s context in mind but are also accessible and affordable. This is especially critical given recent, dramatic spending cuts by major global health R&D funders, which signal a highly uncertain funding landscape.
Key recommendations from the workshop focused on three thematic areas: engaging early with diverse regional actors, coordinating resources between funders for maximum efficiency, and supporting a whole-system approach to enhance broader regional health R&D infrastructure and capabilities. The experts emphasized that investments in TB vaccine R&D should strengthen the entire health research and manufacturing ecosystem, which aligns with the Africa CDC’s goal to locally manufacture 60% of all vaccines administered by 2040. The report concludes that African-driven mechanisms are essential to align resources with regional needs and to maximize the public health, societal, and economic returns of TB vaccine R&D and delivery.
Thumbnail image credit: Gavi
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