New typhoid vaccine in development by Novartis and the Wellcome Trust
5 June 2009
The €5.15 million (£4.5m) grant will fund preclinical development and phase I and II studies for a vaccine to protect against both S. typhi and S. paratyphi A infection, two very similar illnesses that can result in complications and death if left untreated. Currently available vaccines for S. typhi do not protect infants and young children, and S. paratyphi A is a growing problem causing 25-50 per cent of all typhoid cases.
"With more than 21 million cases of typhoid fever worldwide and more than 600 000 deaths each year, this disease is a serious global health issue, especially in the developing world," said Dr Daniel Vasella, Chairman and CEO of Novartis. "The bivalent vaccine being developed by NVGH will use a novel approach to increase efficacy and address the needs of patients that other vaccines have not. This will ultimately have the potential to eradicate this disease."
The NVGH opened in Siena, Italy, in 2008 with a focus on addressing the unmet medical need for vaccines in developing countries. In addition to leveraging prior experience in research and development for conjugate vaccines targeting Salmonella, NVGH research will build upon a promising prototype conjugate vaccine developed by the US National Institutes of Health. NVGH aims to have a product ready for clinical trials by the end of 2010. Expert advice, project support and strategic oversight will be provided by the Wellcome Trust.
"This initiative is a welcome and important contribution to the fight against infection," said Dr Ted Bianco, Director of Technology Transfer at the Wellcome Trust. "Partnerships between public- and private-sector research give us the best chance of effectively addressing the R&D needs of neglected diseases.
"The concept of developing a vaccine that can protect against both causative agents of typhoid fever makes great sense from a public health perspective, but requires a team of great skill to bring to fruition. I wish the NVGH team every success in this exciting endeavour."
Image: An infant receiving an immunisation. Credit: USAID