CARB-X awards up to $18M to GSK for two vaccines

Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X) awarded up to $18 million to GSK Biologicals and its affiliate GSK Vaccines Institute for Global Health (GVGH) to develop new vaccines for two different illnesses.

One is a vaccine for Group A streptococcus infections, or as it is commonly known, strep throat. This award is worth up to $8.2 million, plus up to an additional $4.2 million if the project meets certain milestones.

The other is for infections caused by Salmonella enterica, which causes Invasive nontyphoidal salmonellosis (iNTS) disease and typhoid fever. These conditions cause significant health challenges for children, primarily in sub-Saharan African countries. Salmonella enterica is listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as among those bacteria that pose the greatest threat to human health. The CARB-X award is for $2.2 million to support the development of this new vaccine, with up to $4 million more if milestones are met.

Currently, there no vaccines available for either of these diseases. Both of the GSK vaccine projects are in the preclinical phase of development.

“Vaccines are powerful weapons in the global fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Vaccines not only prevent infections, they also reduce the need for antibiotics, helping to curb the spread of drug resistance,” Erin Duffy, R&D Chief of CARB-X, a non-profit global partnership led by Boston University that is dedicated to supporting the development of therapeutics, preventatives, and diagnostics to address antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.

GSK’s strep throat vaccine aims to reduce the incidence and severity of Strep A infections, while the salmonella vaccine could prevent death and contribute to reduced antibiotic consumption.

“As part of GSK’s overall Global Health approach, GVGH is dedicated to working with partners to develop effective and affordable vaccines that protect vulnerable communities against some of the most prevalent diseases causing high morbidity and mortality in developing countries, Francesco Berlanda Scorza, GVGH Director, said. “Thanks to CARB-X support, we have the opportunity to study and advance innovative vaccines against Salmonellosis and Group A Streptococcus, and contribute to the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR).”

The World Health Organization estimates that 700,000 people die each year from antibiotic-resistant infections, including 35,000 in the United States and 33,000 in Europe. Since 2016, CARB-X has announced 80 awards worth more than $299.8 million.