New Chlamydia Vaccine Shows Serious Potential in Human Trial

If additional research goes favorably, we could now be living in the final years of Chlamydia's reign.

condom
Getty

Image via Getty/ Suparat Malipoom / EyeEm

condom

Chlamydia may be set up to face some acutely difficult existential concerns in the coming years, and it’s all thanks to the findings of a phase one clinical trial from researchers in Denmark and the UK.

According to NBC News, the "first Chlamydia vaccine to be tested in humans" is safe and—pending additional study—has the potential to protect humans from the common STD. Researchers explain here that their aim was to determine the "safety and immunogenicity" of a "novel Chlamydia vaccine based on a recombinant protein subunit (CTH522) in a prime–boost immunization schedule."

Investigator Prof Robin Shattock told BBC News that the findings, i.e. the fact that an immune response was shown in the 35 women tested with the vaccine, suggest the possibility (pending outcomes of further trials) of something tangible for the general public in about five years.

"The findings are encouraging as they show the vaccine is safe and produces the type of immune response that could potentially protect against Chlamydia," Shattock said Tuesday.

While the possible vaccine is still not close to hitting wide availability, as doing so requires many more human tests and further deep-dives on safety and overall effectiveness, the early word on this particular effort is positive. Particularly, disease experts have also noted this experimental vaccine wisely focuses its approach on the apparently popular Chlamydia hiding place of inside the cells.

In the meantime, it's widely advised by anyone with a functioning brain to quite literally always use a condom when engaging in matters that so obviously require them, both for peace of mind and a general sense of responsibility.

Latest in Life