Vaccine Candidate Protects People Against Salmonella Paratyphi A – Vax-Before-Travel

Report on a Novel Vaccine for Salmonella Paratyphi A and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

A recent clinical trial led by Oxford University has demonstrated the significant efficacy of an oral live-attenuated vaccine, CVD 1902, against Salmonella Paratyphi A infection. The successful phase 2b study presents a critical advancement in global health, directly addressing key targets within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). With no existing vaccine for S. Paratyphi A, which is responsible for approximately 30% of enteric fever cases, this development offers a promising tool to combat a disease that disproportionately affects resource-poor regions.

Public Health Impact and Contribution to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)

The development of the CVD 1902 vaccine is a direct response to the global burden of enteric fever, a major obstacle to achieving SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. The disease’s impact includes:

• Over 100,000 deaths annually.
• More than 8 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost each year.
• Over 2 million cases per year caused specifically by S. Paratyphi A.

By providing a preventative measure, the vaccine directly supports SDG Target 3.3: “By 2030, end the epidemics of…communicable diseases.” As noted by Professor Sir Andrew Pollard, the vaccine could be instrumental in controlling a disease that “threaten[s] the lives of children in some of the most resource-poor regions of the world,” thereby contributing to the reduction of preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age (SDG Target 3.2).

Clinical Trial Overview

The study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, provides evidence of the vaccine’s potential to be a transformative public health tool.

1. Vaccine: CVD 1902, an oral live-attenuated vaccine.
2. Study Phase: Phase 2b human challenge trial.
3. Lead Institution: Oxford University.
4. Primary Outcome: The vaccine provided significant protection against S. Paratyphi A infection in adult participants.
5. Safety Profile: No safety concerns were identified during the trial.

Broader Implications for Sustainable Development

Beyond its immediate health impact, the successful development and deployment of this vaccine would advance several interconnected SDGs.

• SDG 1 (No Poverty) & SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): Enteric fever perpetuates cycles of poverty by imposing healthcare costs and loss of productivity on vulnerable families. A vaccine reduces this economic burden and mitigates the health inequalities that exist between developed nations, where the disease is often linked to international travel, and developing nations, where it is endemic.
• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): The research exemplifies the collaborative approach essential for achieving the SDGs. The project was a multi-stakeholder partnership involving:
  • Academic Institutions: Oxford University and the University of Maryland.
  • Private Sector: Bharat Biotech International Ltd.
  • Research Funding Bodies: The UK Medical Research Council and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

1. SDGs Addressed in the Article

   The article highlights issues that are directly connected to the following Sustainable Development Goals:

   • SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

     This is the primary SDG addressed. The article focuses on the development of a new vaccine (CVD 1902) to combat enteric fever caused by S. Paratyphi A. This disease is a significant health threat, causing “more than 100,000 deaths and over 8 million disability-adjusted life years each year.” The research aims to prevent this communicable disease, reduce mortality, and improve health outcomes, particularly for “children in some of the most resource-poor regions of the world,” which is central to the mission of SDG 3.

   • SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

     The article explicitly details a multi-stakeholder partnership essential for the vaccine’s development. It mentions the research was an “Oxford University-led study” with “collaboration from Bharat Biotech International Ltd. and the University of Maryland.” Furthermore, it was funded by the “UK Medical Research Council and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Oxford Biomedical Research Centre.” This international and cross-sectoral collaboration to advance medical science for global health directly embodies the principles of SDG 17.

2. Specific SDG Targets Identified

   Based on the article’s content, the following specific targets can be identified:

   • Target 3.3: End epidemics of communicable diseases

     The article states that enteric fever is a major health issue, with S. Paratyphi A causing “over 2 million annually” of the total cases. The development of a vaccine that provides “significant protection against S. Paratyphi A infection” is a direct action aimed at controlling and eventually ending the epidemic of this communicable disease, as called for in this target.

   • Target 3.b: Support research and development of vaccines

     This target focuses on supporting R&D for vaccines for diseases that primarily affect developing countries. The article is entirely about a “phase 2b study” for a new vaccine against a disease that threatens “children in some of the most resource-poor regions of the world.” The funding and collaborative efforts described are a clear example of supporting the R&D pipeline for such a vaccine.

   • Target 17.16: Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development

     The article details a partnership that mobilizes knowledge, expertise, and financial resources across countries and sectors. The collaboration involves UK academia (Oxford University), an Indian private sector company (Bharat Biotech International Ltd.), and a US university (University of Maryland), with funding from UK research bodies. This international effort to develop a vaccine for a global health problem is a practical application of this target.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied

   The article implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress:

   • Indicators for Target 3.3

     While not stating a formal indicator number, the article provides the baseline data needed for measurement. It mentions the disease burden: “more than 100,000 deaths and over 8 million disability-adjusted life years each year.” A key implied indicator would be the reduction in incidence, mortality, and morbidity rates from enteric fever (specifically S. Paratyphi A) following the vaccine’s potential deployment. The study’s finding of “significant protection” is a measure of vaccine efficacy, a precursor to reducing disease incidence.

   • Indicators for Target 3.b

     The existence of the research project itself, which has reached a “phase 2b study” and been “published in The New England Journal of Medicine,” serves as a qualitative indicator of progress in vaccine R&D. A quantitative indicator would be the amount of financial resources mobilized for this research, as evidenced by the funding from the “UK Medical Research Council and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).”

   • Indicators for Target 17.16

     The article describes the structure of the partnership, which is a qualitative indicator of progress. The collaboration between institutions from the UK, India, and the US is a concrete example of a multi-stakeholder partnership for health innovation. The publication of the research represents the successful sharing of knowledge generated by this partnership.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators (Mentioned or Implied in the Article)
   SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being	Target 3.3: By 2030, end the epidemics of… water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases.	Implied: Reduction in incidence, mortality rate (“100,000 deaths”), and morbidity (disability-adjusted life years) from S. Paratyphi A infection. The vaccine’s “significant protection” is a measure of efficacy towards this goal.
   SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being	Target 3.b: Support the research and development of vaccines… for communicable diseases that primarily affect developing countries.	Implied: The successful completion of a “phase 2b study” and publication of results. The financial investment from the UK Medical Research Council and NIHR serves as an indicator of mobilized resources for R&D.
   SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals	Target 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships.	Directly Mentioned: The existence of the international, multi-stakeholder collaboration itself (Oxford University, Bharat Biotech, University of Maryland) to develop a vaccine for a global health issue.

Source: vax-before-travel.com