Stanford Medicine Universal Vaccine Breakthrough

Scientists at Stanford University School of Medicine, led by Bali Pulendran, have developed a universal vaccine, currently known as GLA-3M-052-LS+OVA, that could protect against a wide range of respiratory viruses, bacteria, and allergy triggers. The vaccine, administered as a nasal spray, showed broad protection in mice for several months against Covid, other coronaviruses, Staph, Acinetobacter baumannii, and house dust mites. The study, published in the journal Science (journal), demonstrated that the vaccine mimics immune cell signals rather than parts of a pathogen. If successfully translated to humans, it could replace multiple annual jabs for winter respiratory infections and potentially work against new pandemic bugs. Bali Pulendran estimates the vaccine could be available within five to seven years with sufficient funding, following safety and larger human trials. While Brendan Wren, Ian Jones, and Jonathan Cran acknowledge the promising approach, they caution that it is still in early stages and a truly universal vaccine for humans is a long way off.