Human trials will begin into a needle-free vaccine against the strep A bacteria developed by Australian researchers that could benefit millions, especially indigenous Australians.
The bacteria, called group A streptococcus, are responsible for a wide range of illnesses, from common infections like strep throat and school sores through to deadly toxic shock and rheumatic heart disease.
More than half a million people worldwide die from diseases caused by the bacteria and indigenous Australians are especially vulnerable, says Dr Chris Davis from Griffith University, where the vaccine was developed.
Researchers from the university's Institute for Glycomics announced on Wednesday they will begin phase one clinical trials on the new vaccine targeted at the streptococcus A infection after signing a collaborative and licence agreement with Chinese biopharmaceutical company Olymvax.
They will work together to develop and eventually commercialise the group A streptococcus (GAS) vaccine exclusively for Greater China.
The vaccine comprises new liposome technology which carries the drugs in minute spherical sacs that can be inhaled via the nose.
This then activates immune cells lining the respiratory tract so they are able to fight off strep A bacteria.
Its needle-free delivery via the nose is thought to be the ideal way to target the strep A bacteria in the upper respiratory tract in order to prevent cases of strep throat, which is linked with rheumatic fever and heart disease - still common in many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
In Australia, Aboriginal people are an estimated 69 times more likely than non-Aboriginal people to develop rheumatic fever and 64 times more likely to have rheumatic heart disease.
In 2006, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reported the mortality rate of rheumatic and other vascular disease was 19 times higher among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people than non-indigenous Australians.
Professor Michael Good says this new commercial agreement with Olymvax is an important step forward in the international roll-out of their vaccine that could soon see the GAS vaccine available in Australia.
"The GAS vaccine has enormous potential to broadly impact human health," he said.
"The availability of a safe and effective GAS vaccine could address a huge unmet public health demand, preventing a wide variety of potentially life-threatening complications and diseases in humans worldwide attributable to this organism."
