From the Guidelines
Valneva is actively developing a vaccine candidate against Shigella, a bacteria that causes severe diarrheal disease, with the goal of preventing shigellosis and addressing the significant morbidity and mortality it causes, especially in children in low-income countries. According to the most recent evidence, Shigella infections are a significant cause of disease worldwide, with approximately 165 million cases and 600,000 deaths annually 1. The development of a Shigella vaccine is crucial, as the bacteria are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics, making treatment more challenging 1. Valneva's expertise in vaccine development, particularly in enteric diseases, positions them well to advance this candidate and address the unmet medical need for a Shigella vaccine.
Some key points to consider in the development of a Shigella vaccine include:
- The significant burden of disease caused by Shigella, with millions of cases and thousands of deaths annually 1
- The increasing resistance of Shigella bacteria to antibiotics, making vaccine development particularly important 1
- The lack of approved vaccines currently available for Shigella, despite the significant public health impact of the disease 1
- The importance of addressing the unmet medical need for a Shigella vaccine, particularly in low-income countries where the disease has a significant impact on morbidity and mortality 1
Overall, Valneva's development of a Shigella vaccine candidate has the potential to significantly impact public health, particularly in low-income countries where the disease has a significant burden. As the most recent and highest quality study available, the 2024 study published in Clinical Microbiology and Infection 1 highlights the importance of addressing the growing problem of antibiotic resistance in Shigella bacteria, making vaccine development a critical priority.
From the Research
Valneva's Involvement in Shigella Vaccines
There is no direct information available on Valneva's involvement in Shigella vaccines in the provided studies.
Current State of Shigella Vaccines
- The development of Shigella vaccines is ongoing, with various candidates in clinical trials 2.
- These vaccines are broadly divided into parenteral glycoconjugate vaccines and oral live attenuated vaccines 2.
- Proof of efficacy has been shown with both approaches, but no vaccine has been licensed to date due to various reasons 2.
Treatment of Shigellosis
- Current treatment options for shigellosis include antibiotics such as azithromycin and ciprofloxacin 3, 4, 5, 6.
- The effectiveness of these treatments can vary depending on the strain of Shigella and the presence of antibiotic resistance 3, 4, 5, 6.
- There is a need for alternative treatment options and comprehensive susceptibility testing due to the emergence of multidrug-resistant Shigella strains 6.