A nasal spray vaccine for pertussis shows potential based on a phase II trial.
In the CHAMPION-1 study, researchers tested BPZE1, a weakened form of the whooping cough bacterium, delivered as a single nasal spray. Participants were then exposed to Bordetella pertussis in a controlled setting two to four months later. The analysis included 53 adults who completed the trial according to the protocol, with 20 in the BPZE1 group and 16 in the placebo group.
Results indicated that about 60% (12 of 20) of those who received BPZE1 had no detectable nasal or throat colonization by Bordetella pertussis on days 9, 11, and 14 after exposure, compared with 25% (4 of 16) in the placebo group. This difference was statistically significant (P = 0.033) and suggests a reduced likelihood of transmission from vaccinated individuals.
Safety findings showed the vaccine was well tolerated, with no serious adverse events and a similar rate of mild side effects in both groups.
The study was funded by ILiAD Biotechnologies and supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).
Industry and clinical experts weighed in on the findings. Ashifa Trivedi, a senior paediatrics pharmacist, described the early results as encouraging for reducing spread and protecting vulnerable babies. She also emphasized continuing high uptake of current vaccines—especially maternal vaccination during pregnancy and the infant immunization schedule—as the most effective current protections. She noted that larger trials are necessary to confirm safety and effectiveness in real-world settings, including children and pregnant women, and that a transmission-reducing vaccine could offer an important additional layer of protection if confirmed.
UK data published by the Health Security Agency in November 2025 show a notable rise in pertussis cases in 2024, with 14,879 confirmed infections—the highest annual count since enhanced surveillance began in 1994. The year also recorded 22 pertussis-related deaths (11 in infants and 11 among older people). The analysis highlighted that most infant deaths occurred in babies whose mothers did not receive the prenatal vaccine, which already provides substantial protection against infant mortality (though not lifelong protection or elimination of carriage or transmission).
NIHR issued a press release in December 2025 noting that ILiAD plans further preclinical and eventual clinical studies to evaluate BPZE1’s use during pregnancy.
Commentators like Nigel Gooding, a neonates and paediatrics pharmacist at Cambridge University Hospitals, stressed the importance of improving antenatal vaccination rates, given the higher risk to babies born to unvaccinated mothers. He also suggested that the nasal vaccine’s mechanism could offer longer-lasting protection and reduce the burden on pediatric intensive care services if its use during pregnancy is proven safe and effective.
In early 2025, NHS England announced plans to involve community pharmacies in delivering whooping cough vaccinations.
Overall, while these results are promising, they come from early-stage research. Larger, real-world trials are needed to confirm the vaccine’s safety profile and its effectiveness in reducing transmission, especially among pregnant women and children. The potential for a transmission-blocking pertussis vaccine could represent a meaningful advance in protecting newborns and easing pressures on healthcare systems, but strong evidence from broader studies is essential before widespread adoption.
Would you support expanding such a nasal vaccine to pregnant individuals if subsequent trials confirm safety and transmission-reduction benefits, or would concerns about long-term effects prompt more cautious use? Share your thoughts in the comments.
