Strep A Vaccine Fund

Strep A causes over 600,000 deaths per year — a toll comparable to HIV/AIDS and malaria — but attracts a tiny fraction of the research funding. Its most serious consequence is rheumatic heart disease, a chronic condition that is triggered by repeated Strep A infections and affects 55 million people worldwide, primarily children and young adults in low- and middle-income countries and disadvantaged communities. Despite this burden, no licensed vaccine exists.

We see Strep A as one of the most promising opportunities in global health R&D: a massive disease burden, very little funding, and recent scientific developments that provide a more credible path to a vaccine that targeted investment could accelerate.

Our strategy focuses on five areas:

• Advancing promising vaccine candidates through clinical trials, and exploring innovative trial designs to speed up development and increase the chance of success.
• Improving scientific foundations, by filling knowledge gaps in immunology, epidemiology, preclinical models, and assay development, that are needed to accelerate vaccine development.
• Seeding the next-generation of vaccines, via modern approaches for antigen discovery and immunogen optimisation that could produce more effective, scalable, and affordable vaccines.
• Preparing the path to deployment, by engaging early with regulators and policymakers, establishing acceptable clinical trial endpoints, and improving burden of disease data, so successful vaccines can reach those most in need quickly.
• Strengthening the Strep A vaccine ecosystem, by building coordination across researchers, funders, and policymakers to improve decision-making and accelerate all Strep A vaccine development efforts.

Alongside vaccine R&D, we also support near-term approaches to reducing the burden of rheumatic heart disease, such as early detection and treatment programs.