During the European Association of Urology (EAU) annual meeting this Summer, researchers shared the exciting results of a study that may ease the suffering of millions struggling with recurring UTI’s. This robust, Phase 3, multi center, randomized, double-blind study was designed to confirm the safety and effectiveness of MV140, a new vaccine designed to prevent recurring UTI’s.

Maria-Fernanda Lorenzo Gomez, MD, of the University Hospital of Salamanca, explained that recurrent urinary tract infections affect 5% – 10% of women. They are managed primarily with antibiotics, contributing largely to the massive rise of antimicrobial resistance. She said “Urinary tract infections are a very important health problem, for both society and the individual patient. Researching vaccines to prevent them is important.”

The study included 240 women, age 18-75 who have had at least five episodes of uncomplicated cystitis during the previous year. Patients who received the vaccine experienced no recurring UTI within the short term while those in the placebo group had a median of 3.0 [interquartile range 0.5 – 6.0] episodes of urinary tract infection. The response was long-term and durable with the first UTI experienced 227 days later. A significant reduction in symptoms, antibiotic use, and need for healthcare resources as well as improvement in quality of life was observed, regardless of treatment schedule. Five subjects reported non-serious adverse reactions, two with placebo and three with MV140 for 3 months.

The MV140 vaccine consists of whole inactivated bacteria (Escherichia coli 25%, Klebsiella pneumoniae 25%, Enterococcus faecalis 25%, and Proteus vulgaris 25%).

Dr. Lorenzo Gomez concluded that MV140 has demonstrated long-lasting clinical efficacy, reducing the incidence and preventing recurrence of urinary tract infections, with an excellent safety profile, in women. The vaccine has shown excellent clinical benefit in observational studies including over 1000 individuals. She added, “The completed study and its results will exert great impact on routine clinical practice. The results signify that the first measure to take against recurrent urinary infections is to vaccinate, using the MV140 (Uromune) polybacterial vaccine.”

Source: EAU 2021: A sublingual bacterial vaccine prevents recurrent UTI in women. Urology. July 19, 2021. https://www.practiceupdate.com/c/121228/32/3/