The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) is about to complete the production of the Schistovac vaccine against schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease with lethal potential that is usually neglected.
According to Fiocruz, this pioneering vaccine will be available in the Unified Health System (SUS) by the end of 2025, representing an important milestone in the fight against this disease.
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Developed by Fiocruz's Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), the Schistovac vaccine is the result of a long-standing project that is now in its final phase.
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Clinical trials of the schistosomiasis vaccine
The schistosomiasis vaccine has undergone five crucial clinical trials, including phases 1 and 2 carried out in Brazil and subsequent phases conducted in an endemic area in Senegal, in partnership with the Pasteur Institute of Lille, in France.
Clinical trials were conducted in adults and children to ensure the safety and efficacy of the vaccine. Now, with the field part closed, the data is being processed and analyzed.
A modification to the vaccination schedule was introduced to optimize the immune response. The proposed protocol is similar to that used in other vaccines, such as COVID-19, with two doses given one month apart and a third dose four months later. This change aims to increase the effectiveness of the vaccine.
New approach to schistosomiasis vaccination shows promising results
A significant advance was achieved in the vaccine production process, using a new batch (Sm14) produced from a master cell bank in the U.S. The scaling up of large-scale production over the past two years has enabled costs to be reduced and yields to increase.
Now, Fiocruz is preparing for phase 3, which will involve the participation of 2,000 people and will be completed by the end of this year. This step is essential to obtain World Health Organization (WHO) prequalification.
Brazil becomes a supplier of technology in the production of vaccine against schistosomiasis
The production of the Schistovac vaccine by Fiocruz is an important milestone for Brazil, as the country will become a technology supplier instead of just a buyer. The transfer of this technology to the National Institute of Immunobiologicals (Bio-Manguinhos), also linked to Fiocruz, is already underway.
In addition, the Brazilian diplomatic office in Geneva is supporting Fiocruz in the creation of a financing fund with the African countries to enable the supply of Schistovac vaccine as a humanitarian vaccine, expanding its reach in countries endemic.
Schistosomiasis: a neglected parasitic disease with global impact
Currently, schistosomiasis affects about 300 million people worldwide, with 800 million living in risk areas. Although data on the disease in Brazil are incomplete, it is estimated that approximately 2% of the population is affected, mainly in the Northeast and South regions of Minas Gerais.
The lack of basic sanitation and precarious sanitary conditions are associated with the spread of schistosomiasis, a disease that is expanding in the country. Access to clean water and basic sanitation are essential to combat this disease and improve people's quality of life.
Vaccines against other parasitic diseases
The technology developed by Fiocruz for the vaccine against schistosomiasis paves the way for the development of vaccines against other parasitic diseases.
The foundation is engaged in an antiparasitic vaccine platform and hopes that more vaccines will be developed to combat other diseases of this type. The fight against parasitic diseases is advancing, and Fiocruz is playing a key role in this progress.