Scientists announce development of world first vaccine to treat gum disease
14 Dec 09
An international agreement to develop and commercialise the world’s first vaccine to prevent and treat severe gum disease periodontitis, has been announced on 11 December.
Scientists from the University of Melbourne and CSL Limited, Australia’s leading biopharmaceutical company, in the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Oral Health Science have identified candidate vaccine antigens for the disease.
Up to 30% of Australian adults suffer from the wide-spread gum disease, which causes gums to bleed and teeth to fall out. The condition has also been linked with heart disease, stroke, adverse pregnancy outcomes, dementia and cancer.
In a new collaboration CSL and global human vaccines company Sanofi Pasteur will fund a program in the University-based CRC to further develop a vaccine to prevent and treat the disease.
Researchers at the CRC carry out their work across the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne and the Bio21 Institute in Parkville. The research and development arm of CSL Ltd is also based at the Institute. Read more in the Melbourne Newsroom.