ACTTIVAC: African Consortium for a Thermostable TB ID93 Vaccine
Optimising the dose, enabling local manufacture, and driving vaccine innovation for TB in Africa.
ACTTIVAC is an Africa-Europe research consortium advancing a thermostable tuberculosis vaccine candidate for use in sub-Saharan Africa. The project is designed to identify the optimal dose of lyophilised single-vial ID93+GLA-SE vaccine, while also strengthening clinical trial capacity, supporting local manufacturing, and testing vaccine stability under real-world field conditions.
Project Overview
Closing the gap between the lab and the last mile.
Tuberculosis remains one of the leading infectious causes of death globally, with a particularly high burden across Africa. ACTTIVAC brings together expertise in vaccine development, clinical research, immunology, manufacturing, and data management to support the development of a vaccine candidate that could be easier to distribute and use in resource-limited settings due to reduced dependence on cold-chain logistics.
Key Facts
Know The Facts
Focus
Thermostable ID93+GLA-SE TB vaccine candidate
Consortium size
7 Partner organisations
Project Type
Phase 2a randomised clinical trial
Countries represented in the consortium
The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Nigeria
Why Acttivac matters
A major challenge in vaccine delivery is the need for reliable cold-chain storage and transport. ACTTIVAC is advancing a lyophilised single-vial formulation of ID93+GLA-SE, designed to improve thermostability, simplify handling, and support more practical vaccine deployment in high-burden, low-resource settings.
About the Project
A major challenge in vaccine delivery is the need for reliable cold-chain storage and transport. ACTTIVAC is advancing a lyophilised single-vial formulation of ID93+GLA-SE, designed to improve thermostability, simplify handling, and support more practical vaccine deployment in high-burden, low-resource settings.
Background
Existing TB vaccines provide limited protection in adolescents and adults, and new vaccine approaches are urgently needed for high-burden, low-resource areas. ACTTIVAC is advancing a single-vial freeze-dried formulation of ID93+GLA-SE, developed to stay stable at higher temperatures and reduce barriers associated with conventional refrigerated supply chains.
Objectives
Know the Objectives
Identify the Optimal Dose
Generate safety and immunogenicity data to identify the optimal dose of the lyophilised ID93+GLA-SE vaccine for Mycobacterium tuberculosis-sensitised adolescents and adults in preparation for a planned phase 2b efficacy trial.
Strengthen Clinical Research Capacity
Implement a structured internship programme to strengthen clinical trial capacity and support the development of a sustainable clinical research workforce in Africa.
Enable Local Vaccine Manufacturing
Transfer adjuvant production technology to support local manufacture of clinical trial material in Africa and help ensure sustainable supply after licensure.
Test Vaccine Thermostability
Evaluate the thermostability of the lyophilised vaccine under field conditions to confirm that it can remain stable at room temperature for at least six months.
Expected Outcome & Impact
What Success Looks Like
- Outcome
The project is expected to deliver evidence on safety and immunogenicity for the optimal dose of the vaccine candidate and generate clinical data on this prophylactic TB vaccine candidate in MTB-sensitised adolescents and adults. It is also expected to strengthen clinical trial capacity and support future manufacturing readiness in Africa.
- Impact
If successful, ACTTIVAC could contribute to more accessible TB vaccine development by reducing dependence on cold-chain logistics, simplifying vaccine handling through a single-vial format, and supporting local manufacturing capacity in South Africa. The project also aims to strengthen long-term clinical research capability and support future policy and implementation decisions.
Full disclaimer:
Funded by the European Union under Global Health EDCTP3. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of Global Health EDCTP3 nor its members. Neither of the parties can be held responsible for them..