We have been following emerging data on the efficacy of clinical vaccine trials against Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a ubiquitous sexually transmitted bacteria that can cause localised and systemic disease if left untreated. It can also be transmitted to neonates during birthing. Worldwide there has been a steady rise of gonorrhoea incidence and antibiotic resistance. In 2024 UK's Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommended the off-label use of 4CMenB vaccine for the prevention of gonorrhoea infection in persons at high risk. Here we present the recent findings of the GoGoVax trial which presented at CROI 2026.

Links:

• Revisiting gonorrhoea prevention in the era of resistance and biomedical interventions
• Multicentre double-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of the meningococcal B vaccine, 4CMenB (Bexsero), against Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection in men who have sex with men: the GoGoVax study protocol
• GoGoVax | Kirby Institute
• GoGoVax dispels hopes for gonorrhoea vaccination

Participants:

Host: Ass Prof/Dr Fabiola Martin, Canberra Sexual Health Centre and Australian National University, Canberra, Australia Prof Kate Seib, Principal Research Leader and NHMRC Leadership Fellow, Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics, Griffith University in Australia