The Next Generation of Polio Vaccines: A Safer and More Affordable Solution

Polio Eradication and Current Vaccines

Polio, once a major global health issue, is now close to being eradicated thanks to vaccines. The inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) and live-attenuated oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) have been instrumental in this progress. However, both vaccines have safety concerns that could impede complete eradication:

• IPV is costly to produce due to strict safety measures.
• OPV, while cheaper and easier to administer, can revert to a form that causes illness and paralysis in areas with low vaccination rates.

The Need for a Safer Vaccine

To ensure polio remains eradicated, a new vaccine is necessary. Our research team has taken an important step towards creating a safer and more affordable polio vaccine using virus-like particles (VLPs). These particles mimic the outer protein shell of poliovirus but are empty inside, eliminating the risk of infection while still being recognized by the immune system.

VLP Technology

This technology has already proven successful in hepatitis B and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines. Since 2008, there have been no cervical cancer cases in women in Scotland who were fully vaccinated against HPV. Over the past decade, our research group has worked to apply this technology to the fight against polio.

Next-Generation Polio Vaccines

The next generation of polio vaccines will likely be produced in yeast or insect cells. Our research shows that VLPs produced in both yeast and insect cells can perform equally or better than the current IPV. These non-infectious VLPs are easier to produce, more temperature stable, and less expensive than IPVs, improving fair and equal access to vaccination.

Conclusion

As we approach eradicating polio worldwide, these next-generation vaccines could be the final tool needed – safe, affordable, and accessible to all.