The oral vaccine is delivered as a small, enterically-coated tablet designed to bypass the stomach and release its contents in the intestinal ileum.
Credit: iStock.com/coldsnowstorm
Vaxart’s orally administered vaccine tablet was safe and elicited mucosal immunity in older adults.
Norovirus is a highly contagious virus that infects mucosal tissues in the gut and causes approximately 20 million cases of acute gastroenteritis annually in the United States (1). It leads to 70,000 hospitalizations, up to 800 deaths, and an estimated $10.6 billion in healthcare costs (2). While most people generally recover after an uncomfortable few days, norovirus poses a significant threat to older adults, particularly those with weakened immune systems or underlying conditions. Yet no vaccine is currently available to mitigate its…