Novel Rabies Vaccine Candidate Hopes to Eliminate Breakthrough Cases

A novel rabies vaccine candidate designed to produce a more robust immune response in an accelerated timespan compared to existing rabies vaccines today announced it has progressed to late-stage clinical research.

YS Biopharma Co., Ltd. confirmed on September 26, 2023, that it has enrolled the first subject in its Phase 3 clinical trial of the PIKA Rabies Vaccine candidate.

The trial will assess the safety, immunogenicity, and lot-to-lot consistency of the PIKA Rabies Vaccine and is expected to include an estimated 4,500 subjects.

Dr. Muhammad Ahmad, the Principal Investigator at Central Park Teaching Hospital in Lahore, Pakistan, where the first subject has been enrolled, commented in a press release, "This marks an important step forward in our collective efforts to develop a novel and powerful vaccine which leverages recent immunological advancements."

"We are optimistic that these results will help shape the future of vaccine interventions and aid in treating a pressing global public health issue."

This experimental vaccine may add clinical value to the currently approved rabies vaccines as sporadic breakthrough infections (i.e., rabies cases in people vaccinated) have been reported, according to The Lancet Infectious Disease in December 2022.

Rabies is a viral disease characterized by an almost 100% mortality rate upon the onset of clinical symptoms.

The virus is responsible for approximately 59,000 human fatalities annually in over 150 countries, primarily in Asia and Africa. 

In the U.S., bites from bats, not dogs, are the leading source of rabies infections.

The U.S. CDC says before visiting high-risk rabies destinations, discuss vaccination options with a healthcare provider.