Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust is participating in the global BEATRIX study, supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and sponsored by Pfizer. This large-scale phase 3 trial aims to build evidence on the effectiveness and safety of a vaccine against common types of GBS, a bacteria found in about one in five pregnant women.
GBS can lead to complications during pregnancy or be passed to babies during birth, sometimes resulting in serious infections. The BEATRIX study, which builds on earlier safety research, will involve approximately 6,000 pregnant women and their babies across over 180 international sites, including 10 in the UK. Participants, who must be between 24 and 36 weeks pregnant and expecting a healthy baby, will be randomly assigned to receive either the study vaccine or a placebo.
Dr. Edward Mullins, leading the study at Imperial College Healthcare, stated, “We are delighted to be part of this international study, which aims to prevent serious illness in babies resulting from Group B Strep infection.” He added that the study has the potential to change clinical practice and improve the lives of babies and families globally.
“"GBS can cause serious illness in newborn babies, yet there is currently no licensed vaccine available to help prevent these infections. The BEATRIX study is evaluating an investigational maternal vaccine and aims to expand our understanding of maternal immunisation against GBS. Research such as this is important in helping build the evidence needed to address a significant unmet public health need."
The study is supported by the NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), a partnership between the Trust and Imperial College London. Participants will be monitored for six months after birth, with their babies followed until they are about 12 months old.
The source text also includes a personal account from Laura Page about her son Leo's severe GBS infection in February 2026, highlighting the potential impact of such illnesses and the importance of research. Leo suffered catastrophic brain damage from sepsis and meningitis but is now making good developmental progress.
