WHO identifies 17 pathogens as priorities for new vaccine development

A new study from the World Health Organization (WHO) finds 17 bacteria, viruses and parasitesthat regularly cause disease as top priorities for development of new vaccines.

This study is the first global attempt to systematically prioritize endemic pathogens based on their impact on regional and global health. Likewise, it reaffirms vaccine research and development (R&D) priorities, including HIV, malaria And tuberculosisthree diseases that together cause nearly 2.5 million deaths each year. Attention is also paid to such pathogens as group A streptococcuswhich causes serious infections and is responsible for 280,000 deaths from rheumatic heart disease, mainly in low-income countries.

Another new priority is Klebsiella pneumoniabacteria that was associated with 790,000 deaths in 2019 and is responsible for 40% of neonatal deaths due to blood infections (sepsis) in low-income countries.

FOCUS ON NEEDS, NOT PROFITS

New research supports ensuring that everyone, everywhere can benefit from vaccines that provide protection against serious diseases. Moreover, His goal is to divert attention from vaccine development for commercial gain. and direct it to meet regional and global health needs, said Dr. Mateusz Hasso-Agopsowiczfrom WHO, which is involved in vaccine research.

“In the past, vaccine research and development has typically been driven by cost-effectiveness. Diseases that severely affect low-income areas receive little attention.“The doctor emphasized. “We hope that this represents a critical change in which we want to shift the focus from the commercial profitability of new vaccines to the real health burden, so that research and development of new vaccines is driven by that health burden and not only because of commercial opportunities,” he noted.

EXPERT ADVICE

To conduct the study, WHO asked international and regional experts What do you think is important when prioritizing pathogens for vaccine research and development? Criteria included mortality, disease, and socioeconomic impact or antimicrobial resistance.

“We asked experts with expertise in pathogen epidemiology, physicians, pediatricians and vaccine experts from all WHO regions to ensure that the list and the results we receive truly reflect the needs of different populations around the world,” Dr. r Hasso-Agopsovich. .

Analysis of these preferences, combined with regional data for each pathogen, led to 10 priority pathogens for each of six WHO regions globally. Likewise, regional lists were later combined into global listwhat led to 17 priority endemic pathogens for which new vaccines are urgently needed.

To promote vaccine research and development, WHO has classified each pathogen based on the stage of vaccine development and the technical challenges involved in creating effective vaccines.

Pathogens for which vaccine research is needed: group A streptococcus, hepatitis C virus, HIV-1 And Klebsiella pneumonia. Pathogens for which further development of vaccines is needed are: Cytomegalovirus, influenza virus (broad protective vaccine), Types of Leishmania, Non-ventral Salmonella, norovirus, Plasmodium falciparum

(malaria), Shigella species And Staphylococcus aureus. And pathogens for which vaccines are approaching regulatory approval, policy recommendations, or implementation dengue virus, group B streptococcus, Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli, Mycobacterium tuberculosis And Respiratory syncytial virus (VRS).

Dr. Hasso-Agopsovich noted that the study is expected to guide future investments in vaccine research and development, including from funders, vaccine researchers and developers, and policymakers as they ““can decide whether to include these vaccines in immunization programs. »