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Developing TB Vaccine Clinical Trial Capacity — Aeras Perspective. Vicky Cardenas, PhD, JD. ASEAN-EU STI Days 21-23 January 2014. Aeras. Founded in 2003 Mission: Develop improved TB vaccines that are affordable and accessible to all who need them Offices
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Developing TB Vaccine Clinical Trial Capacity — Aeras Perspective Vicky Cardenas, PhD, JD ASEAN-EU STI Days 21-23 January 2014
Aeras • Founded in 2003 • Mission: Develop improved TB vaccines that are affordable and accessible to all who need them • Offices • Rockville, MD (headquarters) • Cape Town, South Africa • Beijing, China • Governed by a Board of Directors • Technical advisory groups incorporating expertise from around the world • ~ 170 total employees with annual budget of approx. USD $50 million 2
Fully Integrated R&D Capabilities • Clinical Research • Network of clinical trial partner sites in North America, Europe, Africa and Asia • Diagnostic and mycobacteriology lab capacity at sites • Highly trained and skilled clinical research infrastructure with offices in USA, South Africa & China • Preclinical Research • Staff expertise in vaccine design, assay development, immunology, animal studies, antigen selection, platform development, patent and regulatory filings • Process Development & Manufacturing • Fully integrated BSL-2 compliant biopharmaceutical manufacturing facility 3
Collaboration is key in an unprecedented effort Aeras serves as a catalyst byinvesting in the world’s most promisingTB vaccine candidatesand coordinating a diverse community of global scientists, researchers, governments, and funders on a single mission:the development of effectiveTB vaccines. 4
TB is a Global Epidemic with an Urgent Need for Action • Nearly 9 millionnew cases globally every year • 11 countries in the Asia Pacific are among the 22 countries that carry 80% of • the global TB disease burden 5
Disease burden in Asia Pacific Source: WHO, Global Tuberculosis Control Report 2013 6
TB will not be eliminated by 2050 Current rate of decline -2%/yr (globally) China, Cambodia -4%/yr (the best observed nowadays) Today TB incidence >100x higher than elimination target for 2050 W Europe after WWII -10%/yr (Historical example) Elimination target:<1 / million / yr -20%/yr 7
Vaccine development approach – where to focus 9
The Global Pipeline of TB Vaccine Candidates PHASE I PHASE IIa PHASE IIb PHASE III VIRAL VECTOR rBCG PROTEIN/ADJUVANT ATTENUATED M.Tb IMMUNOTHERAPEUTIC: Mycobacterial – Whole Cell or Extract AERAS SPONSORED 11
Clinical Trials Ongoing and Completed Since 2003 • Numerous clinical trials in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America 12
Historically…circa 2000 • Aeras focus on South Africa • high TB incidence • 576/100k in 2000 • 1003/100k in 2013 Report • large population • ~45 M in 2000 • ~52.5M in 2013 Report • TB Control program • sites requiring some TB capacity building • experienced researchers 13
Expansion Period 2005-2009 IPHCR Pune, India Makerere University Iganga, Uganda KEMRI/CDC Siaya, Kenya CHC SvayRieng, Cambodia UCT/SATVI; Worcester, South Africa 14
Strategy shift circa 2009 • Funder interest in bricks and mortar development, and longitudinal cohort studies diminished • BMGF funding for cohort studies stopped • Sites sought different funding streams to complete follow up 15
Methods shift (I) • Expand search to regions traditionally unexplored for conduct of TB vaccine clinical trials • Identify high incidence pockets in medium incidence countries • Network to identify TB researchers working in the area • Identify established experienced clinical trial sites requiring no/little infrastructure development 16
Methods shift (II) • Determine TB and TB/HIV epidemiology through focused review of extant data (global, national, local, published, etc.) • If appropriate, collaborate on collection of data through conduct of epidemiological studies • Conduct assessment of capacity needs for participation on TB vaccine trials (refer to Pre-Qualification Visit questionnaire) 17
Clinical Study Sites Aeras partners globally to conduct epidemiological studies and clinical trials. 18
Recent Partnership Efforts in Epidemiology and Site Capacity 19