WHO Names Top 17 Pathogens in Urgent Call for New Vaccines to Save Lives

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A new study published today by the World Health Organization (WHO) in eBioMedicine highlights 17 pathogens that are urgently in need of new vaccines to address their global health impact. These pathogens, which are responsible for a wide range of diseases, are being prioritized based on factors such as regional disease burden, the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance, and their socioeconomic impact.

Among the diseases included are HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, and infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria like Klebsiella pneumoniae and Group A streptococcus.

This comprehensive global study is the first to systematically prioritize endemic pathogens for vaccine development, aiming to save millions of lives and alleviate the heavy strain they place on healthcare systems worldwide.

Diseases such as HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis continue to claim nearly 2.5 million lives annually, underscoring the urgent need for better vaccines to combat these longstanding global health challenges.

Dr. Kate O’Brien, Director of the Immunization, Vaccines, and Biologicals Department at WHO, emphasized that vaccine development must be driven by the health needs of vulnerable populations, rather than financial return on investment alone.

“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,” she said.

In addition to reaffirming the importance of vaccines for HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis, the study highlights pathogens that have been increasingly resistant to current antimicrobial treatments. Among these are Klebsiella pneumoniae, which causes pneumonia, and Group A streptococcus, responsible for severe infections like scarlet fever and toxic shock syndrome. Both pathogens are emerging as critical threats due to their resistance to antibiotics, and new vaccines are urgently needed to prevent their spread.

The WHO’s new global priority list is based on extensive regional consultations with international experts, and it provides a clear roadmap for researchers, funders, and governments to focus on vaccines that could have the greatest impact on public health. The study’s findings support the WHO’s Immunization Agenda 2030, which aims to ensure that everyone, everywhere, can benefit from vaccines that protect them from life-threatening diseases.

The WHO’s global prioritization complements its ongoing R&D blueprint for epidemic threats, such as the viruses responsible for COVID-19 and SARS. The focus on endemic pathogens aligns with WHO’s broader mission to reduce the burden of diseases in low- and middle-income countries, where health systems are often most stretched.

As for the status of vaccine development, several of the pathogens on the list are at various stages of research and development. Among those that urgently require new vaccines are HIV-1, Hepatitis C, and Plasmodium falciparum (the parasite responsible for malaria). Vaccines for other pathogens, like Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (the bacterium that causes tuberculosis), are closer to regulatory approval or policy recommendations, signaling progress in the global fight against these diseases.

With this new report, WHO aims to provide a transparent, evidence-based framework for vaccine R&D, emphasizing the need for a collaborative approach to address some of the world’s most pressing health challenges.