A bold warning about a looming public health challenge opens this piece, then reveals a potential new tool that could change how we stop whooping cough in its tracks. A recent NIHR-supported trial explores BPZE1, a nasal spray vaccine, and finds it can block the whooping cough bacterium from taking up residence in the nose and throat—a key step in cutting transmission and reducing outbreak risk. The early results come from a controlled human challenge study and suggest BPZE1 could become an important addition to preventing future outbreaks. Further testing will show whether these encouraging findings hold up in broader settings.
Rising incidence underscores why novel vaccines are urgently needed
In 2024, whooping cough cases in England reached their highest level in three decades. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported 14,879 confirmed cases, the most since enhanced surveillance began in 1994. Even with routine childhood vaccines, current options don’t confer lifelong protection or reliably stop people from carrying or spreading the bacteria. This reality makes innovative strategies essential. Whooping cough remains a serious illness that affects millions worldwide. BPZE1 was evaluated in a clinical trial at the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) and the NIHR Southampton Clinical Research Facility (CRF). The vaccine is particularly important for newborns, who are most at risk before they complete their first vaccination series at 8, 12, and 16 weeks under the U.K. schedule.
BPZE1 nasal vaccine shows potential to curb bacterial colonisation
Researchers observed that BPZE1 can prevent the whooping cough pathogen from colonising the nose and throat, a crucial milestone for blocking onward transmission. In the CHAMPION-1 study, a weakened form of the bacterium was given as a single nasal spray to assess safety and protective effect. The trial enrolled 53 adult volunteers who were exposed to the whooping cough bacterium two to four months after vaccination or a placebo. Participants stayed in a quarantine facility for 16 nights and received antibiotics to eliminate any remaining bacteria. Throughout the study, health status and biological samples were closely monitored.
Findings indicate safety and meaningful immune responses
The trial demonstrated that BPZE1 was safe and generally well tolerated, with no serious adverse events reported. Most participants who received the vaccine showed little or no detectable bacteria in their nasal passages after exposure, suggesting a reduced likelihood of transmitting the illness. Additionally, the vaccine elicited robust immune responses in both the nasal passage and the bloodstream, pointing to the potential for longer-lasting protection.
Public health leadership and expert commentary
Public Health Minister Ashley Dalton described the trial as a significant breakthrough in combating whooping cough. She contrasted BPZE1 with existing maternal vaccines that protect babies before birth, noting that BPZE1 works by preventing bacterial residence in the nose and throat, which could lower transmission across the population and protect more people beyond newborns. She framed the study as evidence of the UK’s world-class research ecosystem driving innovation to safeguard future generations.
Professor Robert Read, who led the NIHR Southampton BRC study, highlighted that this is the first human demonstration that a whooping cough vaccine can stop colonisation of the nose and throat, signaling a possible major step toward curbing disease spread.
The trial leveraged a pioneering, controlled human-infection model developed at the University of Southampton as part of the PERISCOPE international collaboration.
Diane Gbesemete, NIHR Southampton BRC Principal Investigator, emphasized that despite high vaccination rates, outbreaks persist. BPZE1 could offer better protection and lower transmission, strengthening overall disease control.
Professor Marian Knight of NIHR Infrastructure noted that this work illustrates how collaboration between industry and NIHR researchers can yield globally meaningful discoveries. She described the study as a move toward reducing or even eradicating whooping cough, underscoring that NIHR-supported, public-funded research sits at the forefront of defending us against emerging health threats.
Pregnancy-ready data remains unavailable; plans are underway for additional preclinical and later clinical studies to evaluate BPZE1’s use during pregnancy and to gather data on maternal safety and efficacy.
