A new market for vaccines

One of the drivers behind the success of biological divisions of several big pharma players, is the development of second and third generation vaccines. Recent examples of publicly funded vaccines are those targeting HPV (cervical cancer), H1N1(influenza). Approval of others for malaria and ovarian cancer are anticipated within the next couple of years. Its quite evident that the scales of administration for these vaccines could result in one of the better success stories for healthcare - both in terms of industry and payer ROI, as well as health outcomes.

But whilst the general target market for vaccines is healthy people not in treatment, one new candidate is positioning itself within the nosocomial infection market. Novadigm Therapeutics is developing the NDV-3 vaccine against Staphylococcus aureus & Candida albicans - two of the most troublesome pathogens for hospital infections. In what would be the first ``cross-kingdom`` vaccine of its kind (staph is a bacteria whereas candida a fungus), investigators have targeted the Als3 surface protein which is common to both. Another related target market for its use could also be immune-compromised infection-prone patients. Studies showing efficacy against MRSA would indeed make this an incredibly valuable treatment, and a welcome respite in the battle against antiobiotic resistance. Positive phase 1 results look promising, but significant challenges still remain on issues of proof-of concept, clinical adoption and public acceptance of what would appear to be yet another vaccine loaded with toxic excipients.