The first vaccine against schistosomiasis, a disease affecting 200 million people around the world, has recently been approved in clinical trials. This means the vaccine was considered safe and able to induce immunity to the disease. The project was developed by Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (Oswaldo Cruz Institute) – IOC/Fiocruz – and has the support of Fiotec, whose work receives the renowned contribution of researcher Miriam Tendler, coordinator of the project. “Fiotec has extensive activities, which are not limited to the execution of bureaucratic tasks. We have realized the institution is interested in managing resources efficiently and that it takes partnership seriously”, she said.

In five years, the project generated a turnover of BRL 6 million. According to the researcher, the project has just entered its final phase, a phase which is fundamental to assure the success of the discovery, and that also depends on the good performance of Fiotec. “The major problem in Brazil is not earning money, but managing it.”  For this reason, Fiotec has an inestimable value in the development of the research”, said Tendler.

The vaccine is based on the Sm14 antigen, a substance that stimulates the production of antibodies, and puts Brazil in the edge of science, with the first vaccine against helminthes. The antigen, which has already showed to be efficacious against fascioliasis (a cattle disease), may potentially be used as basis for the development of immunizing agents indicated for other human diseases caused by helminthes, preparing the immune system to fight parasite infection, and avoiding the parasite shelters in the body or causes any harm.

The next step of the project is administering the vaccine to children and preparing their bodies to fight the disease still in its initial phase, preventing the host from experiencing the symptoms. The product is expected to reach the market in up to four years.

Know more about schistosomiasis.

*Information provided by CCS and IOC (Fiocruz).

Picture: Guto Brito/CCS.