Recipient organisationGSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health
Funding£4.8M
PeriodJul 2009 — Sept 2018
In plain English
AI plain-English summary
A single shot could soon protect children in South and Southeast Asia against two major causes of typhoid fever—*Salmonella* Typhi and Paratyphi A—which together account for most bloodstream infections in the region. No licensed typhoid vaccine works in infants or children under two, who are at highest risk. No vaccine at all exists for Paratyphi A. This project aims to close that gap by combining two surface-polysaccharide antigens—Vi for Typhi and O:2 for Paratyphi A—each chemically linked to a non-toxic diphtheria protein. The resulting bivalent conjugate vaccine is designed to trigger strong, long-lasting immunity in babies as young as six weeks, fitting into routine childhood immunisation schedules or mass campaigns. If successful, the vaccine could cut typhoid-related deaths and disability across South and Southeast Asia, where poor sanitation and limited healthcare make these infections a persistent threat. The work is led by the Novartis Vaccines Institute for Global Health, a non-profit institute that prioritises vaccines with little commercial incentive. The proposal will take the vaccine through Phase 2 clinical trials, testing safety and immune response in the target populations.
View original technical description
A bi-valent vaccine covering S. Typhi and S. Paratyphi A is proposed within this Strategic Award. It would be useful throughout the world but initially istargeted to South and Southeast Asia, for use in infants as part of the EPI schedule or in all ages as part of mass vaccination campaigns, providing >90% protection against bacteraemia. The proposed vaccine is composed of two surface polysaccharide antigens, Vi and O:2 targeting S. Typhi and S. Paratyphi A respectively, each conjugated individually to CRM197, the mutant diphtheria toxin protein. No vaccine for S. Typhi is licensed for use in infants or children <2 years of age, a population at significant risk. No vaccine is available for S. Paratyphi A. Clinical data has demonstrated the usefulness of Vi conjugate and O Ag conjugate vaccines but their commercialization has been slow. NVGH is a new institute with a non-profit mission dedicated to the development of vaccines, with little commercial incentives, needed in developing countries. Using technologies and know-how present in Novartis, NVGH is developing a Vi- CRM197 vaccine that will be available for combination with the S. Paratyphi A O antigen conjugate. This proposal seeks to develop the bivalent typhoid vaccine through Phase 2 clinical trials.
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