Aeras, OETC commence TB drug Phase IIb trial

Aeras and the Oxford-Emergent Tuberculosis Consortium (OETC) have commenced a Phase IIb trial to investigate a new experimental tuberculosis vaccine in TB patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

The trial will evaluate the HIV patients who are using MVA85A, which is being developed by OETC, a joint venture between the University of Oxford and Emergent BioSolutions, and Aeras.The trial will test the vaccine candidate in around 1,400 HIV adults of 18-50 ages.Aeras president and CEO Jim Connolly said studies have already shown that this promising vaccine has an acceptable safety profile and stimulates strong immune responses in HIV-infected individuals.