Two Australian research institutes, including one based in WA, are developing a new Strep A vaccine clinical trial.
Nearly $7 million dollars have been awarded to the Australian Strep A Vaccine Initiative (ASAVI), a joint effort between Telethon Kids Institute, based in Perth and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, based in Parkville Victoria.
The goal of the ASAVI initiative is to help reduce the global impact of Group A Streptococcus (Strep A) infections, through vaccination. The program is co-directed by Prof Jonathan Carapetis from the Telethon Kids Institute and Prof Andrew Steer at Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.
The new grant, provided by the international organisation Open Philanthropy, strengthens the investment of AU$35 million, made by the Australian government last year to support the development of a Strep A vaccine.
A deadly infection
Strep A bacterial infections can lead to conditions like sore throats (‘strep throat’), scarlet fever and skin sores (impetigo). These conditions, when left untreated, can lead to more serious, often fatal diseases, such as acute rheumatic fever, which can affect the heart (Rheumatic Heart Disease), and kidneys (glomerulonephritis). Worldwide, Rheumatic Heart Disease affects 15.6 million people, and Step A – related conditions kill more than 500,000 people every year. For more information about these conditions, head to this governmental website.
In Australia, diseases caused by Strep A infections affects a large number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who are six times more likely than other Australians to get Strep A bloodstream infections. It is estimated that about 94% of all new cases of acute rheumatic fever in Australia affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
“We know that here in Australia, 400,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are at risk of developing rheumatic heart disease as a result of recurrent Strep A infections which start in childhood,” said Ms Pat Turner in a press release. Ms Turner is CEO of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), and Co-Chair of END RHD – an alliance of health, research and community organisations advocating for community-led, research-backed solutions to end RHD in Australia.
“There is no cure for RHD, and on average, Aboriginal people with RHD in the Kimberley die at just 41 years of age. This is a preventable injustice,” she added.
The current efforts to develop a vaccine hope to alleviate this heavy health burden and safe millions of lives. “This program has significant importance for Australia, but also for people all around the world,” Professor Carapetis said in a press release. “A vaccine is urgently needed to prevent rheumatic heart disease in developing countries but also in Australia’s First Nations communities, where the disease burden is among the highest in the world,” he added.
The new grant by Open Philanthropy will support a Phase 1 clinical trial of a Strep A vaccine that has been developed and will pave the way for effectively treating Strep A conditions.