Each year, one in four women suffers from bacterial vaginosis, something that is currently treated with antibiotics. However, recently a gentler, antibiotic-free alternative has been authorised for sale in the EU. The chance discovery behind the innovation was made by a group of researchers from Lund University in Sweden.
Stinging, itching and odorous vaginal discharge is a common and a stigmatised condition that may be due to an imbalance in the vaginal bacterial flora, a yeast infection or both. Bacterial vaginosis is currently treated with antibiotics or antiseptic medicines. They kill all bacteria in the genital area effectively but mercilessly.
An antibiotic-free alternative will soon be available in pharmacies. It is a vaginal suppository, the active ingredient of which lowers pH and promotes natural lactobacilli - beneficial for women affected by bacterial vaginosis, and often yeast infections, since they can occur simultaneously.
Clinical trials show that half of the patients experience symptom relief after just 24 hours and 70 per cent are completely symptom-free after six days. The risk of relapse is also low compared to antibiotics.
It was ten years ago that you discovered, by chance, that you were on to something. Tell us, how did it happen?
Ulf Ellervik, Professor of Chemistry: "We were working on producing a product containing lactic acid, which is naturally present in the vagina and keeps the environment acidic and pathogen-free. However, making medicines from lactic acid is not easy. We therefore looked at ways of binding it to other molecules, including an oxidised form of glucose, gluconodelta-lactone (GDL), which is also used in food.
When we did more thorough tests, we realised that we didn't actually need the lactic acid. The results were actually better with pure GDL, which was unexpected. Because GDL, unlike lactic acid, is a solid, it is also easy to press into suppositories."
What did this mean to you?
"Coming up with a chemical idea that can then be used by patients is incredibly pleasing, it's a fantastic boost. Added to that is the fact that we have managed to navigate the tricky journey from patents, through clinical trials and now to CE marking. This project has been a happy marriage between chemistry and medicine, where we stumbled over surprising and useful discoveries along the way."
