
Early trials show the vaccine may hold hope for tackling the most common bacterial STI
The first ever early clinical trial for a vaccine for genital chlamydia has shown it to be safe and effective at provoking an immune response.
The latest findings, from a randomised controlled trial of 35 healthy women led by Imperial College London and the Statens Serum Institut in Copenhagen, demonstrate promising early signs of what could be an effective vaccine against chlamydia.
The infection is the most common bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) worldwide and it can lead to infertility.
One of the problems we see is that people get repeatedly re-infected. If you could introduce a protective vaccine, you could break that cycle. Professor Robin Shattock Department of Infectious Disease
The researchers highlight that the work is an ‘important first step’ but add that further trials are now needed to determine whether the immune response provoked by the vaccine will effectively protect against chlamydia infection.
Professor Robin Shattock, Head of Mucosal Infection and Immunity within the Department of Infectious Disease at Imperial said: “The findings are encouraging as they show the vaccine is safe and produces the type of immune response that could potentially protect against chlamydia.
“The next step is to take the vaccine forward to further trials, but until that’s done, we won’t know whether it is truly protective or not.”
Most prevalent bacterial STI
Chlamydia trachomatis is one of the most prevalent bacterial STIs, representing a major global health burden, with 131 million new cases occurring each year. However, as many as 3 out of 4 infections are symptomless, so the number of cases is likely to be underestimated.
National screening programmes and antibiotic treatment have failed to reduce infection rates, and the highest number of new cases are found in teenagers and young adults.
While infection can often be treated with antibiotics, complications can include inflammation, infertility, ectopic pregnancy, arthritis and even an increased susceptibility to other STIs, including HIV.
“The major issue with chlamydia is the long-term consequences,” explained Professor Shattock. “It is very treatable if identified, but as many people don’t have symptoms it can be missed, and the biggest problem is that it can go on to cause infertility in women.”
He added: “One of the problems we see with current efforts to treat chlamydia is that despite a very big screening, test and treat programme, people get repeatedly re-infected. If you could introduce a protective vaccine, you could break that cycle.”
Encouraging early results
In the latest trial, researchers compared two different formulations of the new vaccine to examine which would perform better. The 35 women not infected with chlamydia included in the trial were randomly assigned to three different groups: 15 participants received the vaccine with liposomes, 15 received the vaccine with aluminium hydroxide, and 5 received saline solution (placebo).
In total, participants received five vaccinations with three intramuscular injections in the arm over several months, followed by two intranasal boosts.
Both formulations of the vaccine provoked an immune response in 100% of participants, whereas no participants in the placebo group achieved an immune response.
Although both formulations of the vaccine were found to provoke an immune response, the added liposomes consistently performed better and produced more antibodies, so the authors suggest this formulation should be pursued for further clinical development.
The full findings are published in the journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases. The group is now planning phase 2 trials.
UK risks being ‘left behind’
The research was made possible through grants from the European Commission. Professor Shattock raised concerns about the future of such international collaborations and whether UK institutions can maintain their leading role in vaccine research.
“Increasingly vaccine development requires multiple partners,” said Professor Shattock. “We have a wealth of world-leading expertise in the UK, with our scientists working to tackle infections, and to discover and develop new vaccines. But if we are no longer part of that European network we may be left behind.
“It’s not just about the funding, it’s about being part of these larger projects that bring together companies and academics and a much wider portfolio of experience, technology and expertise to solve global health problems.”
Learn more: First vaccine for chlamydia shows promise in early trials
The Latest on: Chlamydia
via Google News
The Latest on: Chlamydia
- Chlamydia Infection Test Market Analysis By Top Countries Data, Market Size, Revenue, Price, Share, Growth Rate, Forecast to 2026on January 10, 2021 at 7:27 pm
The Global "Chlamydia Infection Test Market" is anticipated to rise at a considerable rate during the forecast ...
- Chlamydia Prevalence in the General Populationon January 8, 2021 at 4:00 pm
Non-population-based systematic reviews have consistently shown that the pooled prevalence of genital chlamydia between males and females is similar. [16,24,25] A systematic review and meta ...
- Effectiveness of Chlamydia Screening: Systematic Reviewon January 8, 2021 at 4:00 pm
We had no language restrictions. We used subject heading and free text terms that combined Chlamydia trachomatis infections or pelvic inflammatory disease with terms for screening (Supplementary ...
- Julius Schachter, Leading Expert on Chlamydia, Dies at 84on January 5, 2021 at 11:03 pm
He played a major role in combating trachoma, a chlamydia-related disease. He died of complications of Covid-19. By Katie Hafner This obituary is part of a series about people who have died in the ...
- Chlamydia often doesn't show symptoms - here are the best ways to tell if you have this serious STIon December 31, 2020 at 7:09 am
Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. It is caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis. Symptoms of chlamydia can include discharge from the vagina or penis ...
- Evofem Biosciences Provides Update on Pivotal Phase 3 Trial of EVO100 for Prevention of Chlamydia and Gonorrheaon December 21, 2020 at 6:07 am
SAN DIEGO, Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Evofem Biosciences, Inc., (NASDAQ: EVFM) today announced that its pivotal Phase 3 trial, 'EVOGUARD,' of EVO100 for the prevention of chlamydia and ...
- Global Chlamydia Infection Test Market Overview Report by 2020-2025on December 17, 2020 at 6:47 pm
The global Chlamydia Infection Test market size is expected to gain market growth in the forecast period of 2020 to 2025, with a CAGR of xx%% in the forecast period of 2020 to 2025 and will ...
- Global Chlamydia Diagnostic Testing Market Analysis by 2020-2025on December 17, 2020 at 6:45 pm
The global Chlamydia Diagnostic Testing market size is expected to gain market growth in the forecast period of 2020 to 2025, with a CAGR of xx%% in the forecast period of 2020 to 2025 and will ...
- Evofem Biosciences Provides Update on Pivotal Phase 3 Trial of EVO100 for Prevention of Chlamydia and Gonorrheaon December 17, 2020 at 4:15 am
SAN DIEGO, Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Evofem Biosciences, Inc., (NASDAQ: EVFM) today announced that its pivotal Phase 3 trial, 'EVOGUARD,' of EVO100 for the prevention of chlamydia and gonorrhea ...
- Everything you need to know about chlamydiaon December 16, 2020 at 7:51 am
Chlamydia is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the UK. It affects both sexes, although women are more at risk. If caught early chlamydia is easily cured, but ...
via Bing News