Quratis said Friday that it has administered the first dose of schistosomiasis vaccine developed in collaboration with international organizations in Africa.
The schistosomiasis vaccine has successfully completed a phase 1 clinical trial in the United States, and phase 1b dosing began in Africa in November.
Schistosomiasis is one of the Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), and infectious diseases caused by schistosomiasis parasites are among the most devastating after malaria. The infection is transmitted through contaminated water and causes red spots in the acute phase and hepatitis and cirrhosis in the chronic phase, leading to death in severe cases.
In 79 developing countries across Africa, Asia, and parts of South America, where schistosomiasis is endemic, more than 250 million people are infected, with an estimated 3.3 million deaths per year. More than 779 million people worldwide are still at risk of infection.
Schistosomiasis is commonly treated with medications, including anthelmintic, but repeated parasitic infections can lead to side effects and resistance, making vaccination more effective in the long term. There is no licensed vaccine to date, and the potential global market for a vaccine is estimated to be worth 15 trillion won ($11.2 billion) based on the number of patients.
Last year, Quratis signed a technology introduction (license-in) agreement for the schistosomiasis vaccine “QTP105” with U.S. biotechnology company PAI Life Sciences. It acquired rights to use, sell, research, develop, manufacture, import, and export the schistosomiasis vaccine.
Quratis is conducting phase 1b trials in Burkina Faso and Madagascar with support from the European Union and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
It aims to begin phase 2a trials of QTP105 as early as the second half of the year. The GMP-grade vaccine will be produced for clinical trials at Quratis' plant in Osong, North Chungcheong Province.
"The administration of schistosomiasis vaccines will benefit hundreds of millions of people at risk of the disease," a Quratis official said. “We will fulfill our mission of taking social responsibility."