“Expanding Applications Beyond Tuberculosis”
- A notable and expanding trend in the global Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine market is its emerging use beyond tuberculosis (TB) prevention, particularly in oncology and immunotherapy. The vaccine’s immunomodulatory properties are increasingly being explored in the treatment of bladder cancer and as a potential therapy for autoimmune diseases and other infections
- For instance, intravesical BCG remains the standard of care for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), with ongoing clinical trials investigating its efficacy in reducing recurrence and progression
- Moreover, studies are underway evaluating BCG's role in reducing the severity of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections by enhancing innate immunity. These novel uses are contributing to renewed interest and investment in BCG research
- Pharmaceutical companies are responding by enhancing production capabilities and developing optimized BCG formulations for therapeutic use. For example, companies such as Merck and Serum Institute of India are expanding their manufacturing and research pipelines to meet increasing global demand
- This trend of diversification and therapeutic expansion is reshaping the market outlook for BCG vaccines, establishing them as multifunctional biologics beyond their traditional public health role in TB control
