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Hepatitis C Vaccine Development Dashboard

🧬 The Quest for an Elusive Vaccine: 35+ Years Without Success

After 35+ years since HCV discovery, there is still NO approved vaccine despite 50 million people living with chronic hepatitis C and 250,000 annual deaths from liver disease.

The challenge is unprecedented: HCV's extreme genetic diversity, rapid mutations, and immune evasion mechanisms have defeated every vaccine candidate that reached clinical trials.

Current status: While highly effective treatments (95%+ cure rates) exist, prevention remains impossible without a vaccine. Only preclinical and early research programs continue worldwide.

Global HCV Burden: 50 million chronic infections | 1 million new infections/year | 250,000 annual deaths | WHO elimination goal 2030 at risk without vaccine

Hepatitis C Vaccine Development Statistics

Clinical Trials

0

None active

Preclinical

5+

Research stage

Failed Trials

1

2012-2019

Years Searching

35+

Since 1989

Filter by Development Stage

HCV Vaccine Candidates: Failed Trials & Preclinical Research

Why No Hepatitis C Vaccine Exists After 35 Years

🧬 Scientific Challenges Preventing HCV Vaccine Development:

  • Extreme genetic diversity: 7 major genotypes and 67 subtypes make universal coverage nearly impossible
  • Rapid viral mutations: High error rate in RNA replication allows virus to evade immune responses
  • No reliable animal models: Only chimpanzees susceptible to HCV, now ethically restricted for research
  • Unclear protective immunity: Scientists still don't understand which immune responses prevent chronic infection
  • Immune evasion mechanisms: Virus can establish chronic infection despite robust immune response

💊 Market and Economic Realities:

  • Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs): Cure >95% of infections, reducing urgency for prevention
  • Limited commercial incentive: Pharmaceutical companies prioritize profitable treatments over vaccines
  • High development costs: Vaccine development costs $500M-$1B with uncertain return on investment
  • Treatment vs prevention: Treatment success paradoxically reduces market for preventive vaccine

Last updated:

Data sources: WHO, Nature Reviews Immunology, NEJM, ClinicalTrials.gov, NIH, Published Research

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