Enhanced Typhoid Vaccine Receives WHO Qualification

With an estimated 11 to 20 million typhoid fever cases every year and about 120,000 related deaths, global health leaders are aggressively improving access to new vaccines.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently confirmed its recommendation to use three vaccines to control endemic and epidemic typhoid fever.

In late February 2024, SK bioscience and the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) announced that the SKYTyphoid™ typhoid conjugate vaccine had received prequalification (PQ) from the World Health Organization.

WHO PQ certifies a vaccine's safety, efficacy, and GMP by evaluating its manufacturing process, quality, and clinical trial results according to stringent standards.

SKYTyphoid utilizes the 'purified Vi polysaccharide-diphtheria toxoid conjugate' method, which conjugates diphtheria toxin protein (diphtheria toxoid), which acts as a carrier, to polysaccharide of typhoid bacteria, which acts as an antigen.

Adopting conjugation technology, the vaccine is safe for infants and young children aged six months to 2 years. It is expected to provide sufficient immune response and long-term protection with a single dose compared to existing oral live or polysaccharide typhoid vaccines.

SKYTyphoid initially obtained a licensure in Korea in 2022.

Dr. Sushant Sahastrabuddhe, Director of IVI's Typhoid program, said in a February 23, 204 press release, "The WHO licensure of SKYTyphoid... will diversify and expand the supply of TVCs and help improve vaccine access in the endemic countries. With SK's commitment to making the vaccine for global public health at a competitive price, SKYTyphoid will play an important role in typhoid prevention globally."

SK bioscience plans to start supplying the vaccine as soon as possible and expand global supply through public procurement markets including typhoid endemic countries.

Typhoid fever is transmitted by consuming raw or undercooked food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person.

In 2024, there are significant typhoid fever outbreaks in sub-Saharan Africa.

In March 2024, local media reported that Taiwan confirmed its first locally acquired typhoid fever case this year. Since 2019, Taiwan has accumulated 49 typhoid cases, 18 of which were domestic cases.

In the United States, about 5,700 people get typhoid fever each year, and 620 of those people are hospitalized.

There are currently two typhoid fever vaccines available in the United States.