Research and Development of New Products
Competence in biotechnology, from
patent to product
Vaccines with higher protection against tuberculosis
Pioneering in
recombinant BCG technology
A partnership with Instituto Butantan
Recombinant technology applied to BCG strengthens and transforms its power to activate the immune system.
In the 1970s, it made history again by becoming the gold standard in the treatment of bladder cancer.
Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) entered medical history in 1921 as a vaccine against tuberculosis.
Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)
Scenario of human tuberculosis in the world
A dangerous
disease
Tuberculosis is among the Top-10 causes of death in the world. Brazil is among the countries with a high incidence of tuberculosis.
A demand
problem
​
Conventional BCG, traditionally used as a vaccine against tuberculosis, has an irregular global supply.
It was the most important cause of death from a single infectious agent (before the Sars-CoV-2 pandemic)
An efficiency
problem
​
Conventional BCG offers good protection against childhood tuberculosis but has reduced protection against pulmonary tuberculosis in adults.
Demanda
1.7 million
deaths per year worldwide
4,500
deaths in Brazil,
200 new cases a day
Affects
mainly developing countries
Opportunities
BCG shows
reduced protection
in adults
150 million
doses is the estimated
world demand
10 million
doses is the estimated
demand for Brazil
Scenario of bovine tuberculosis in Brazil
Bovine tuberculosis has no vaccine or treatment.
​
The development of a veterinary vaccine against tuberculosis would have a major economic impact.
Demanda
943 million
estimated global cattle herd
50 million
estimated number of infected individuals worldwide
U$ 3 billion
estimated global animal losses
234 million
estimated Brazilian herd in 2022
2.9 million
Infected individuals in Brazil in 2022
U$ 448 million
estimated annual loss in Brazil
Brazil
Vaccine with greater protection
​
The new recombinant BCG vaccine for tuberculosis (rBCG-TB-A – rBCG expressing an adjuvant) has demonstrated longer-lasting protection against infection (up to 6 months) and reduced inflammation in experimental animals.
Recombinant BCG-TB-A: Long-lasting protection with reduced pathology
Expected results
​
BCGene will carry out the product development stages in order to make the patent available for licensing to companies interested in producing and marketing the new rBCG tuberculosis vaccine.
Other products
IIn addition to the tuberculosis vaccine, we also use the recombinant BCG strategy (expressing an adjuvant) to develop a more effective treatment for bladder cancer.
rBCG for cancer
BCG modification has led to an improved treatment for bladder cancer. Different recombinant BCG strains in alternative formulations are being investigated for use against bladder cancer and lung cancer.
Contact
Av. Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 3144, conj. 31
Jardim Paulistano – São Paulo, SP, Brasil
01451-000