Brazil’s public health research institution, the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), has developed the world’s inaugural vaccine against schistosomiasis, commonly known as water belly.
The vaccine is currently awaiting prequalification from the World Health Organization (WHO).
The novel immunizer, Schistovac (Sm14), is in its final testing phase. It is the first vaccine developed against a helminth, a category of parasitic worms accounting for approximately one-sixth of the neglected tropical diseases.
The vaccine, crafted using Brazilian technology and manufactured at the Schistosomiasis Experimental Laboratory of the Oswaldo Cruz Institute (IOC), has been classified as top-priority health research by the WHO.
The antigen, the molecule intended to trigger an immune response, was discovered and isolated within the Fiocruz laboratory, leading to the vaccine’s development.
In preclinical trials on lab animals, the vaccine reduced Schistosoma mansoni infection by over 90% in rats and rabbits.
The vaccine was well-received in human trials, primarily causing pain at the injection site, with no serious adverse events reported.
Initial human trials commenced with 20 individuals in Rio de Janeiro in 2011. Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials were subsequently conducted in Senegal.
The most recent phase trial’s preliminary results indicate that the vaccine is safe and prompts an immune response against Schistosoma mansoni, the cause of schistosomiasis.
Upon receiving WHO approval, this vaccine will be the first globally to offer protection against a worm.
“If approved, Schistovac will receive an endorsement to be introduced in endemic countries, potentially serving as a crucial tool for health in priority nations,” noted Miriam Tendler, a Fiocruz researcher and study leader.
Schistosomiasis, or water belly, is a neglected parasitic disease associated with inadequate sanitation and unsanitary conditions.
The disease is caused by infection with the schistosome through snail eggs containing larvae (cercariae), which penetrate human skin.
Endemic regions primarily include countries in Africa and the Americas. In the Americas, nearly 95% of schistosomiasis cases are reported in Brazil.
The Ministry of Health estimates that over 1.5 million Brazilians are at risk of contracting schistosomiasis.
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