POLB 003

POLB 003 is a prophylactic vaccine candidate developed for the prevention of melioidosis, a severe infectious disease caused by the bacterium *Burkholderia pseudomallei* (also known as *Burkholderia mallei* in some contexts), which is endemic in Southeast Asia and Northern Australia with an estimated 165,000 cases annually and a 54% fatality rate. There is currently no approved vaccine available, and existing antibiotic treatments are often ineffective due to growing resistance; the vaccine targets this high unmet need, including potential stockpiling as a CDC-designated biothreat. It acts as an immunostimulant, licensed from University College Dublin, and is positioned for non-dilutive grant funding to advance development.[1][3][5][15]