Breakthroughs Lead To New Vaccine Hope, UK

Main Category: Immune System / Vaccines
Also Included In: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses
Article Date: 14 Apr 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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A VACCINE for the deadly meningitis B could soon be a reality thanks to recent breakthroughs, the UK's leading scientists have revealed.

The encouraging news came at Meningitis UK's first Vaccine Development Forum in Sheffield, which attracted the country's key researchers and pharmaceutical companies.

Recent developments have meant the first human trials since 1994, giving renewed hope that one day the disease will be eradicated completely.

Predictions of when the vaccine will be available range from two to 10 years, with five years thought to be a realistic time span.

But Meningitis UK has warned that a new vaccine may not cover all strains of the disease, so research needs to be ongoing.

After the successful introduction of the Meningitis C vaccine in 1999, Meningitis B now accounts for 90 per cent of all cases and kills hundreds of people each year.

Pharmaceutical company Novartis, one of the four sponsors of the day, has developed a meningococcus B vaccine, which is the frontrunner in the race to provide immunisation against the disease.

Ray Borrow, head of the Vaccine Development Unit at the Health Protection Agency in Manchester, described the latest breakthroughs as "exceedingly exciting".

He explained how the Novartis vaccine includes the antigen from the successful vaccine which is in use in New Zealand but also features three other antigens because the strains in this country are different and more complex.

Dr Borrow said: "Results from the Novartis trials are very encouraging. After the third dose of the vaccine we're seeing excellent levels of protection - over 90 per cent - so the antigens are working.

"It might be that it only protects against 40 per cent of strains but that would still be a big step forward, saving hundreds of lives."

Dr Borrow warned that the vaccine is only likely to protect children over the age of five months, which means a huge number would still be at risk.

There was also positive feedback on a potential vaccine being developed by Wyeth but scientists warned there was still a long way to go.

An audience of over 70 specialists heard presentations from the scientists who are leading four of the Meningitis UK-funded projects, all looking at the complexities of the meningococcal bug and the vaccine potential of proteins, antigens and the neisseria lactamica bacteria.

Prof Dlawer Ala'Aldeen, head of the Molecular Bacteriology and Immunology Group at Nottingham University, praised Meningitis UK for its support, enabling a far better knowledge of the meningococcal bug.

He said: "It was a fantastically informative and useful day. The work everyone's doing is vital because it's such a complex disease. Many of the significant breakthroughs come out of projects funded by Meningitis UK, which are then picked up by the pharmaceutical companies.

"We're hopeful that, at last, one of the trials will lead to a vaccine. There are key milestones that can be achieved in the next two to five years, but the ultimate implementation of the vaccine will take longer.

"We're nowhere near to saying this is history and we have won. We have to keep an eye on the new vaccines in the pipeline and keep investing in new areas."

Meningitis UK organised a Friends' Open Day for their supporters the following day at which scientists shared the latest developments.

Also present were two of the charity's patrons - Shirley Webb, otherwise known as Battleaxe from Gladiators, and Bob Woodward, who founded the children's cancer charity CLIC.

A special memorial service was held in the afternoon to enable people to remember their lost loved-ones and light a candle in their memory.

Prof Robert Read, Professor of Infectious Diseases and Honorary Physician to the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Foundations NHS Trust, was at both days and said they provided a "wonderful opportunity".

He added: "I found that meeting families affected by the disease was a humbling and regenerative experience. It reiterated just how much finding a vaccine means to people."

This year marks Meningitis UK's 10th anniversary and to date it has invested over £2million into meningitis vaccine development. Its Search 4 a Vaccine aims to raise £7million to help fund cutting-edge research to develop a vaccine against Meningitis B.

Meningitis UK's Chief Executive Steve Dayman, who lost his son Spencer to the disease in 1982, said: "When I was sat in a hospital in Bristol 27 years ago there was very little research going on. Now there's so much to be positive about.

"It was great to hear about the developments as a result of our funding but there's still a long way to go.

"This isn't the end of the story but it's definitely a positive step towards finding this elusive vaccine. We need to keep batting away because there's still a great deal to learn before we can eradicate the disease completely.

For more information about Meningitis UK, or to support the charity's Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign, visit http://www.meningitisUK.org.

Source
Meningitis UK

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