New Delhi: The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a study published in eBioMedicine, naming 17 pathogens that pose major health risks globally as top priorities for new vaccine development.
This first-of-its-kind effort systematically prioritizes pathogens based on disease burden, antimicrobial resistance, and socioeconomic impact, aiming to guide global vaccine research, development, and use.
The report reaffirms urgent vaccine development needs for HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis, diseases that collectively claim nearly 2.5 million lives each year.
Additionally, WHO's list emphasizes pathogens like Group A streptococcus and Klebsiella pneumoniae, which are emerging as significant health threats due to increasing antimicrobial resistance.
"Too often, global decisions on new vaccines have been solely driven by return on investment, rather than by the number of lives that could be saved in the most vulnerable communities," stated Dr Kate O’Brien, Director of the Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals Department at WHO. "This study leverages broad regional expertise and data to highlight vaccines that would significantly reduce diseases impacting communities today and alleviate medical costs for families and health systems."
WHO's analysis incorporated regional insights and data from international experts, culminating in 10 priority pathogens for each WHO region, later consolidated into a global list of 17 high-priority pathogens.
This initiative aligns with the Immunization Agenda 2030, which strives for universal access to vaccines that can protect people from serious diseases.
The prioritized list offers valuable insights to academics, funders, manufacturers, and governments, focusing R&D efforts on vaccines with the potential to make a significant health impact. It also complements WHO’s R&D blueprint, which focuses on pathogens that could lead to epidemics or pandemics, such as COVID-19.
17 Pathogens Identified by WHO:
- Pathogens needing new vaccines: Group A streptococcus, Hepatitis C virus, HIV-1, and Klebsiella pneumoniae.
- Pathogens requiring further vaccine development: Cytomegalovirus, Influenza virus (broadly protective vaccine), Leishmania species, Non-typhoidal Salmonella, Norovirus, Plasmodium falciparum (malaria), Shigella species, and Staphylococcus aureus.
- Pathogens nearing regulatory approval: Dengue virus, Group B streptococcus, Extra-intestinal pathogenic E. coli, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
The WHO study underscores a shift toward equity and transparency in prioritizing vaccines, addressing the specific immunization needs of low- and middle-income countries and targeting pathogens with the highest public health and economic burdens.