The BCG vaccine, a significant medical breakthrough developed in the early 20th century, is derived from a strain of Mycobacterium bovis initially created by the University of Illinois as a vaccine against tuberculosis. For NMIBC, BCG is administered intravesically to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence and progression. Its unparalleled success in this area has made it the gold standard in bladder cancer treatment, particularly for high-risk patients. The TICE strain of BCG, produced by Merck, has been US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) -approved for the treatment of bladder cancer since 1998. Merck is the sole manufacturer and supplier of this critical treatment ...
