Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) is the most common gram-negative bacterial pathogen affecting humans. Every year, ExPEC causes approximately 10 million cases of invasive E. coli disease (IED), which includes sepsis, bacteremia (blood infections) and infections of other sterile sites of the body. This is a significant and often overlooked public health threat, affecting people of all ages around the globe, especially older adults. E. coli strains are increasingly resistant to many antibiotics, making it harder to effectively treat many very common infections, and increasing the need for effective prevention.
Johnson & Johnson and Sanofi are working to develop an investigational ExPEC vaccine candidate that aims to prevent IED. The vaccine candidate is currently being evaluated in a Phase 3 efficacy study. If proven safe and effective, this vaccine candidate could help address a significant unmet medical need by helping to prevent IED, including cases caused by drug-resistant E. coli strains.