Tubervac BCG

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), a live attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis, holds a prominent place in medicine as a vaccine and immunotherapeutic agent with diverse benefits and features. Initially developed as a vaccine for tuberculosis (TB), BCG has been widely used for over a century to prevent severe forms of TB, particularly in infants and children, by stimulating the immune system to mount a protective response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In addition to its role in TB prevention, BCG has garnered attention for its immunomodulatory properties and therapeutic potential in various non-TB conditions. One of its most notable applications is in the treatment of superficial bladder cancer, where intravesical instillation of BCG induces a potent local immune response that targets and destroys cancerous cells, reducing the risk of disease recurrence and progression.

Furthermore, BCG has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of certain autoimmune and inflammatory conditions, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and type 1 diabetes mellitus, through mechanisms involving immune modulation and tolerance induction. Additionally, BCG vaccination has been explored as a potential strategy for enhancing innate immunity and providing protection against a wide range of infectious diseases, including respiratory infections and viral illnesses. Despite its long history of use and extensive research, BCG’s precise mechanisms of action and its full therapeutic potential continue to be elucidated, with ongoing investigations exploring its applications in cancer immunotherapy, infectious disease prevention, and beyond.