The primary limitation of the current BCG vaccine is its waning effectiveness after childhood, leaving adolescents and adults vulnerable to pulmonary TB, which is the most transmissible form. Closing this "efficacy gap" is the single most important goal of modern TB vaccine research. New candidates are specifically designed to be "boosters" for those who received BCG at birth, or as primary vaccines for adults who have never been exposed to the bacterium.

Market insights for the Tuberculosis Vaccine Treatment Market indicate that the adult and adolescent segment represents the largest untapped commercial and public health opportunity. Strategic focus is shifting toward "re-vaccination" strategies and the development of vaccines that prevent the "reactivation" of latent infections. As diagnostic tools become better at identifying individuals with latent TB, the demand for vaccines that can maintain long-term immune surveillance in adults is expected to grow exponentially, particularly in urban environments with high population density.