The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a study detailing the top endemic pathogens urgently requiring new vaccines. This represents the first global effort to systematically prioritize endemic pathogens based on criteria including antimicrobial resistance risk, regional disease burden, and socioeconomic impact.
Prioritized Pathogens
Alongside reaffirming the need for continued vaccine research and development for diseases like malaria and HIV, the study identifies pathogens such as Group A streptococcus and Klebsiella pneumoniae as top disease control priorities in all regions. These pathogens pose significant threats, especially in vulnerable communities with limited access to healthcare.
Kate O’Brien, director of the immunization, vaccines and biologicals department at WHO, stated that global decisions on new vaccines have been too often solely driven by return on investment, rather than by the number of lives that could be saved in the most vulnerable communities. She added that this study uses broad regional expertise and data to assess vaccines that would not only significantly reduce diseases that greatly impact communities today but also reduce the medical costs that families and health systems face.
Vaccine Development Stages
Vaccines for the 17 pathogens are at different stages of development. Group A streptococcus, hepatitis C virus, HIV-1, and Klebsiella pneumoniae are among the pathogens where vaccine research is critically needed. Other pathogens where vaccines require further development include Cytomegalovirus, influenza virus (broadly protective vaccine), Leishmania species, non-typhoidal Salmonella, Norovirus, Plasmodium falciparum (malaria), Shigella species, and Staphylococcus aureus.
Pathogens with vaccines approaching regulatory approval, policy recommendation, or introduction include dengue virus, Group B streptococcus, extra-intestinal pathogenic E. coli, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and respiratory syncytial virus.
Addressing Antimicrobial Resistance
This announcement follows WHO's recent release of its 2024 Bacterial Priority Pathogens List, which highlights antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens that should be prioritized to address the evolving challenges of antibiotic resistance. The updated list covers 24 pathogens spanning 15 families and categorizes them into critical, high, and medium priority groups to inform research and development and public health interventions. This list underscores the urgent need for new vaccines to combat pathogens resistant to existing treatments.
