Coefficient Giving launched a $140 million fund for Strep A vaccine development, backed by philanthropists including former Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz. The initiative targets a bacterium that kills hundreds of thousands annually, similar to malaria and HIV/AIDS, yet receives far less funding. The WHO recently named Strep A a top disease control priority, acknowledging its significant global health burden.

The fund aims to double the number of vaccine candidates and have at least one ready for human clinical trials by 2030. It plans to mobilize $200 million from various funders over five years, improving scientific understanding of Strep A and assisting vaccine candidates. Progress in recent years suggests an effective vaccine is now possible, with money being the primary obstacle.

The effort highlights philanthropists' growing role in under-resourced diseases as countries cut health aid. Andrew Steer called the fund a "game changer" for a field with several promising candidates approaching clinical trials. The investment signals potential opportunities in the vaccine development market, particularly for neglected diseases with high mortality rates but limited commercial incentives for traditional pharmaceutical companies.