French healthcare company Sanofi S.A. (Euronext Paris:SAN) (Nasdaq:SNY) announced on Wednesday that it has received fast track designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its mRNA vaccine candidate aimed at preventing chlamydia infection.

This designation reflects the vaccine's potential to address a serious condition and meet an unmet public health need.

The vaccine is designed to protect against primary and recurrent genital tract infections caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. Following promising pre-clinical results, Sanofi plans to initiate a phase 1/2 clinical study in the coming days to evaluate the vaccine's immunogenicity and safety in adults aged 18 to 29 years.

Chlamydia, a bacterial infection affecting the reproductive tract, can lead to infertility and pregnancy complications, with 129 million cases reported globally in 2020. Despite the availability of antibiotic treatment, over 80% of cases are asymptomatic, resulting in undiagnosed and untreated infections that contribute to ongoing transmission.

Sanofi's development of this vaccine is part of the Translational Science Hub, a collaboration with the Queensland Government, Griffith University and the University of Queensland, connecting researchers in Australia with Sanofi scientists in France and the United States.