In this article:
A UK study has found an oral spray-based treatment effective in preventing UTIs
Prevention could last for up to nine years in men and women
Why the effectiveness of current antibiotic treatments has an expiry date
A new innovative product is set to provide much-needed relief for people suffering from chronic UTI infections. Here’s what you need to know.
Whether you’ve had the displeasure of experiencing a UTI once, or are constantly battling the uncomfortable affliction, you know the whole ordeal is something you wouldn’t even wish on your enemies.
And while the internet is rife with ‘foolproof’ cures and cranberry-themed tricks, most can be pretty hit-or-miss when it comes to ridding yourself of the common bacterial infection. With many suggestions being largely unmonitored (and unsafe) online, it is recommended you consult with your GP or specialist before trying any antibiotic treatments or home remedies.
Now a new game-changing spray vaccine could hit the shelves of pharmacies around the world in the next few years, targeted towards people experiencing recurring UTI infections (three per year).
How the spray vaccine works
While the pineapple-flavoured spray vaccine is not yet approved for use in Australia, researchers predict it could represent a new age of preventative treatments in the industry.
Named MV140, the vaccine utilises heat-inactivated bacteria from four of the major species linked to UTIs: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecalis and Proteus vulgaris.
Stored in the fridge, the prospective treatment needs to be sprayed under the tongue every day for three months to prevent recurring UTIs, a delivery designed to stimulate the oropharyngeal system in order to build a strong immune response in the bladder.
The promising trials and research
Over the past decade, one long-term observational study and several short-term trials have been completed by clinicians at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in the UK, each showing positive results in favour of the vaccine’s effectiveness.
The long-term study involved 72 women and 17 men, with 54 per cent remaining UTI-free for nine years after receiving the drug.
The remaining 46 per cent of participants reported fewer and less severe UTIs over the same period, with only a few needing to take a course of antibiotics to treat an infection.
"Importantly we wanted to test the safety of this vaccine and we showed that in nine years there were no long-term side effects," says Dr Yang, a UK-based urologist who has worked as an investigator with the company developing the vaccine.
Research by the same team also revealed participants reported higher energy levels, and improved emotional wellbeing after receiving MV140.
A new age of treatment offerings
While UTI-focussed antibiotics have long been prescribed to patients with varying success, growing global antibiotic resistance around the world threatens to undermine the treatment method entirely.
Subsequently, experts have been trying to develop alternative cures and preventative treatments for decades.
"We are terrified. Because we don't have any new antibiotics coming in," says Dr Yang. "Because the mainstay of treatment is low-dose antibiotics once a day, every day we're essentially breeding the next generation of treatment-resistant bacteria."
"We don't necessarily know which antibiotics to use in any given case as it's not always clear what particular infection is causing the symptoms," Monash University immunologist Malcolm Starkey adds. "The idea of having a vaccine that can have these long-term effects is a real game-changer."
More Coverage
While experts and chronic UTI battlers are no doubt excited to watch the research progress on MV140, it’s important to note the vaccine is not yet approved in most countries – including Australia.
Australian Doctors will be able to apply through the special access scheme to prescribe the vaccine to particular patients, but it will not be offered widely and will cost a patient $320.
Currently, there is no application before the Therapeutic Goods Administration to approve MV140 for wider regulated use in Australia.
Originally published as A new oral spray vaccine could prevent chronic UTIs
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2024-04-11 06:03:16Z
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