Applying our expertise to tackle infectious diseases
Two thirds of the vaccines and medicines in our pipeline address infectious diseases (including HIV). Infectious diseases are responsible for one in six deaths globally. There is a huge need for innovation to tackle chronic infections, seasonal infections, common childhood diseases, rare but devastating conditions such as meningitis, and a range of bacterial infections made more challenging by antimicrobial resistance; as well as diseases which largely impact lower-income countries like malaria and tuberculosis.
We are also committed to addressing neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), which disproportionately affect some of the world's most vulnerable populations. We are providing access to medicines, supporting disease surveillance and control programs, and advocating for increased awareness and resources to combat NTDs.
Our combined expertise in vaccines and medicines means we can focus on both the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases, resulting in significant public health benefits, reduced deaths and increased productivity.
Respiratory viruses
We’ve been leaders in delivering medicines that help manage respiratory conditions for over 50 years. Respiratory illnesses - such as flu, bronchitis, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), asthma and COPD - have a significant impact on global health. We are committed to developing treatments that can reduce the burden of respiratory diseases, improve health outcomes, and save lives.
We are also working to prevent these illnesses. We research seasonal viruses that cause diseases like bronchitis which pose a significant risk to older adults and individuals with underlying medical conditions. We are also exploring ways to protect against a broader range of respiratory viruses using advanced vaccine technologies, such as adjuvants and next-generation mRNA.
Anti-infectives research
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the world’s top 10 health threats. Without action, AMR, including antifungal resistance, could contribute to 10 million deaths per year by 2050 and cause an economic loss of £100 trillion. Across our pipeline we have over 30 projects relevant to AMR, 12 of them targeting pathogens deemed ‘critical’ or ‘urgent’ by WHO and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We are actively addressing the challenge of AMR, including the development of novel antibiotics for antibiotic-resistant infections such as urinary tract infections and gonorrhoea.
AMR is particularly prevalent in low-resource settings. We continue to research treatments against several enteric diseases that contribute to the burden of AMR, including salmonella, klebsiella, typhoid, shigella and paratyphoid fever. We collaborate with governments, international organisations, and academic institutions to share knowledge, resources, and expertise to accelerate the development of new antibiotics, promote responsible use of existing treatments, and implement effective strategies to combat AMR on a global scale.
Shingles
Shingles or herpes zoster is a painful and debilitating disease caused by reactivation of the same virus that causes varicella (chickenpox), sometimes with serious consequences like long-term nerve pain and loss of vision. One in three people will develop shingles in their lifetime.
We collaborate with healthcare partners to continuously improve our understanding of shingles and develop innovative solutions that can enhance prevention, diagnosis, and management of the disease.
Acute bacterial infections
We are working on developing vaccines for several acute bacterial infections such as meningitis and pneumococcal disease.
Meningitis: One in six people who get bacterial meningitis die and one in five face serious complications. To protect as many children and adolescents as possible, we are working to build a comprehensive understanding of the disease mechanisms to effectively target and treat meningitis. We are deepening our understanding of the different serotypes of the bacteria that cause the disease to help us to develop vaccines that specifically target and combat the strains of bacteria causing meningitis. This may offer broader protection and can lead to more effective prevention and treatment strategies.
Pneumococcal disease is the name for any illness caused by the streptococcus pneumoniae bacterium, such as pneumonia, sepsis or meningitis. Approximately one million children die of pneumococcal disease every year. Vaccines available today only cover about 60% of circulating disease, leaving many vulnerable people at risk of being severely sick or hospitalised with pneumonia, sepsis or meningitis – and even death. Vaccines with broader protection may help to prevent these diseases from the start. We are leveraging the MAPS platform to explore how we can provide broader and stronger protection against pneumococcal disease to improve the health and well-being of individuals worldwide.
Chronic hepatitis B (CHB)
CHB is a major global health issue, affecting nearly 300 million people across the world. The WHO estimates only 13% of these people have a diagnosis, only 3% receive treatment, and almost a million die each year.
Our expertise in infectious disease, immunology and human genetics has driven research into CHB for over 35 years. Through our research we have improved understanding of the heterogeneous nature of hepatitis B infections which will help progress towards a comprehensive, functional cure for people living with CHB, a common cause of chronic liver disease. We aim to eliminate the need for continued therapy, ultimately reducing the long-term risk of developing liver complications.
Millions of people living with chronic hepatitis B are unaware they have the virus. So why aren’t they getting diagnosed?
Herpes simplex virus
Genital herpes is a chronic sexually transmitted infection caused by herpes simplex viruses. It affects some 683 million people worldwide. Many suffer frequent outbreaks, psychological distress, stigma, and increased HIV risk. The WHO estimates 3.7 billion people under age 50 (67%) globally have herpes simplex virus type 1 infection, the main cause of oral herpes and 491 million people aged 15–49 (13%) worldwide have herpes simplex virus type 2 infection, the main cause of genital herpes. Our research continues to explore new therapeutic approaches for herpes including the development of novel antiviral agents and vaccines to prevent infection and reduce viral shedding, thereby providing patients with better control of outbreaks.
