ViVa News — Week 28

Shigella vaccine breakthrough The live-attenuated oral Shigella sonnei vaccine WRSs2 reported 89% efficacy against shigellosis in a phase 2 controlled human infection trial — the highest protection rate ever recorded for a Shigella vaccine candidate after more than a century of failed attempts. ViVa 28 Universal vaccine platform Researchers at Cambridge and spin-out DIOSynVax completed a first-in-human trial of an AI-designed “super-antigen” vaccine technology intended to provide broad, durable protection against entire virus families (such as coronaviruses or Ebola viruses) regardless of future mutations. The trial confirmed safety with no significant side effects, marking an early but conceptually important step toward pandemic-proofing vaccine design. Industry consolidation and deal-making Eli Lilly announced the acquisition of three vaccine development companies for a combined $3.83 billion, signaling renewed big-pharma investment in vaccine R&D. Separately, Seattle-based Curevo is advancing a next-generation shingles vaccine designed to match existing efficacy while reducing common side effects such as fatigue and...