An experimental nasal vaccine has for the first time prevented the colonization of whooping cough bacteria in humans, according to a recently published clinical trial. This breakthrough could curb the disease's spread, particularly in a year of record cases in England. The BPZE1 vaccine, developed by ILiAD Biotechnologies, reduced bacterial presence by over 97% compared to placebo.
The study, published in The Lancet Microbe on December 2, involved 53 adults in Southampton and Oxford, England. Participants received the BPZE1 vaccine via nasal spray or a placebo, and between two and four months later were exposed in a controlled manner to Bordetella pertussis. They then spent 16 nights in quarantine under monitoring before receiving antibiotics to clear the bacteria.
Results from the Phase 2b CHAMPION-1 trial showed elevated immune responses in both the nasal mucosa and blood, indicating potentially long-lasting protection. "This study shows that BPZE1 has the potential to offer a different form of protection and help reduce transmission," said Dr. Diane Gbesemete, a researcher at the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre.
Unlike current acellular vaccines, which prevent severe cases but not colonization or transmission, BPZE1 targets the initial infection stage by preventing the bacteria from settling in the nose and throat. The controlled human infection model was developed by the University of Southampton as part of the international PERISCOPE consortium. Robert Read, the study leader, described this platform as key to evaluating transmission-blocking vaccines.
In 2024, England recorded 14,879 confirmed whooping cough cases, the highest since 1994, with 11 infant deaths so far. Health Minister Ashley Dalton called the advance "a significant step." ILiAD Biotechnologies plans Phase 3 trials in 2026, with potential approval for use in adults and children during recurrent outbreaks.