UTI vaccine

A UTI vaccine is a vaccine used for prevention of urinary tract infections (UTIs). A number of UTI vaccines have been developed and/or marketed, including Uromune (MV-140), UroVaxom (OM-89), Solco-Urovac, and ExPEC4 V, Strovac.

Background
Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in women, causing significant physical and emotional distress. While antibiotics are widely used to treat them, the recurrence of UTIs poses a significant challenge. Long-term antibiotic use not only poses health risks but also contributes to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance, making effective treatment more challenging.

MV140
MV140, also known as Uromune, is a vaccine developed to treat recurrent UTIs that is made from heat-inactivated bacteria mixed with in glycerol, sodium chloride, artificial pineapple flavoring, and water. It contains specific strains of four types of bacteria: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecalis, and Proteus vulgaris.

This vaccine is taken by spraying it under the tongue twice a day for three months. It is currently being tested in clinical trials. Studies suggest that MV140 works by stimulating the immune system to produce antibodies and activate certain immune cells, which help protect against UTIs.

In a conducted study involving 89 individuals with a history of urinary tract infections (UTIs), participants were instructed to use two sprays of the vaccine daily for three months. Preliminary results presented at the European Association of Urology Congress in Paris revealed that nine years later, 54 percent of the participants remained free from UTIs. Women in the study remained UTI-free for approximately 4.5 years on average, while men experienced around 3.5 years without UTIs. Dr. Bob Yang, who co-led the study and serves as a consultant urologist at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust in the United Kingdom, noted that before receiving the vaccine, all participants had struggled with recurrent UTIs, which can be challenging to treat.

Current limitation
Currently, the vaccine remains in the experimental stage and waits approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).