Leprosy Vaccines: An Opportunity to Eradicate a Millennia-Old Disease

Leprosy, a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis, remains a major public health challenge today. Despite advancements in treatment through multidrug therapy (MDT), the persistence of the disease, active transmission cases, and associated stigma continue to hinder eradication efforts. In this context, prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines are emerging as promising tools, offering a critical complementary approach to accelerate the elimination of this ancient disease.

Leprosy Vaccines: A Promising Strategy?

This study reviewed 12 randomized clinical trials assessing the efficacy of leprosy vaccines, divided into 8 prophylactic and 4 therapeutic studies. Key findings include: