Progress towards a vaccine against S. pyogenes has been slow, impeded by a series of technical, regulatory and investment obstacles. However, In the past decade momentum has shifted with a greater understanding of the potential for health impact of a vaccine, and with more vaccine candidates heading into human trials.
In this presentation I will outline the past, present and future of vaccine development for S. pyogenes. I will chart the potential path forward, highlighting the potential pitfalls that lie ahead and propose how they might be anticipated and overcome. In describing key steps and milestones, I will emphasise how our research community can work together to maximise the likelihood of achieving successful development and deployment of S. pyogenes vaccines to meet a huge unmet global health need.