pertussis pipeline insight

DelveInsight’s, “Pertussis - Pipeline Insight, 2026” report provides comprehensive insights about 10+ companies and 10+ pipeline drugs in Pertussis pipeline landscape. It covers the pipeline drug profiles, including clinical and nonclinical stage products. It also covers the therapeutics assessment by product type, stage, route of administration, and molecule type. It further highlights the inactive pipeline products in this space.

Geography Covered

Global coverage

Pertussis Disease Understanding

Pertussis Overview

Pertussis, or whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused primarily by the gram-negative bacterium Bordetella pertussis, which targets the ciliated epithelium of the respiratory tract and disrupts mucociliary clearance through bacterial adhesins and toxins. Humans are the sole known reservoir, although related Bordetella species such as B. parapertussis, B. bronchiseptica, and B. holmesii can also cause respiratory illness. The disease is characterized by a prolonged cough that progresses through distinct stages and may involve severe coughing fits, an inspiratory “whoop,” and posttussive vomiting. Recognized since the 1500s, pertussis continues to pose a major global health burden despite widespread vaccination, with periodic outbreaks occurring among both vaccinated and unvaccinated populations. Infants under 6 months are at the greatest risk of severe complications, hospitalization, and mortality, while adolescents and adults often present with milder or atypical symptoms, contributing to delayed diagnosis and ongoing transmission. Early diagnosis and timely antimicrobial treatment are essential to limit disease spread and reduce severity, while effective prevention relies on vaccination, including maternal immunization during pregnancy, along with coordinated public health interventions.

Pertussis is caused by Bordetella pertussis, a fastidious aerobic gram-negative coccobacillus that colonizes the ciliated epithelium of the human respiratory tract, with humans serving as the sole known reservoir. The infection spreads primarily through respiratory droplets generated by coughing, sneezing, or close contact with infected individuals. Other Bordetella species can also cause respiratory disease in humans, including Bordetella parapertussis, which typically leads to a milder pertussis-like illness, and less commonly Bordetella bronchiseptica and Bordetella holmesii, particularly in immunocompromised individuals or those with underlying medical conditions.

Transmission of Bordetella pertussis occurs primarily through respiratory droplets during close contact with infected individuals. Following inhalation, the bacteria attach to the ciliated epithelium of the respiratory tract, where they multiply on the mucosal surface and evade mechanical clearance, leading to the persistent cough characteristic of pertussis. The pathogenicity of B. pertussis is mediated by multiple virulence factors, including adhesion molecules such as filamentous hemagglutinin, pertactin, and fimbriae, which facilitate bacterial attachment and airway colonization while resisting host immune defenses. The organism also produces several toxins that impair immune function and damage respiratory tissues. Pertussis toxin, the principal virulence factor, disrupts host immune signaling and contributes to systemic manifestations, including marked lymphocytosis and, in severe infant cases, pulmonary hypertension. Additional toxins, including adenylate cyclase toxin and tracheal cytotoxin, impair phagocytic cell function, damage ciliated epithelial cells, and disrupt mucociliary clearance, resulting in mucus accumulation and airway inflammation. Collectively, these mechanisms weaken respiratory defenses and trigger the severe paroxysmal cough, inspiratory “whoop,” and posttussive vomiting that characterize pertussis.

Pertussis diagnosis is confirmed through laboratory testing in patients with compatible clinical symptoms, primarily using nasopharyngeal swab or aspirate specimens. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the preferred diagnostic method due to its rapid turnaround and high sensitivity and specificity, particularly within the first 1–4 weeks after symptom onset when bacterial DNA remains detectable. Although culture remains the gold standard because of its absolute specificity and utility in public health surveillance, its sensitivity declines after the early stages of illness, and the slow growth of Bordetella pertussis can delay results by up to 10 days. Serologic testing is most useful in later stages of the disease, typically 3–12 weeks after symptom onset when antibody levels peak, and is mainly applied for epidemiological purposes or delayed presentations. In contrast, direct fluorescent antibody testing is no longer recommended due to poor diagnostic performance. Supportive laboratory findings may include leukocytosis with marked lymphocytosis, particularly in infants and young children, where severe elevations are associated with pulmonary hypertension and increased mortality risk. While routine metabolic tests are generally nonspecific, chest radiography may be utilized to assess complications such as pneumonia in severe cases.

The primary goals of pertussis management are to reduce transmission, prevent complications, and provide supportive care. Macrolide antibiotics, particularly azithromycin, are the preferred first-line treatment, while trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole is an alternative for patients intolerant to macrolides. Early antimicrobial therapy is most effective, though treatment within 3 weeks of cough onset mainly helps limit disease spread. Postexposure prophylaxis is recommended for household contacts, high-risk individuals, and healthcare workers exposed to infected patients. Supportive care is especially critical in infants, who may require hospitalization for apnea, hypoxia, dehydration, or pneumonia, with severe cases occasionally requiring exchange transfusion or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Adjunctive therapies such as corticosteroids, bronchodilators, and cough suppressants have not demonstrated consistent benefit. Patients should remain under droplet precautions and are considered noninfectious after 5 days of appropriate antibiotic therapy, while untreated individuals may remain contagious for up to 3 weeks after cough onset.

"Pertussis- Pipeline Insight, 2026" report by DelveInsight outlays comprehensive insights of present scenario and growth prospects across the indication. A detailed picture of the Pertussis pipeline landscape is provided which includes the disease overview and Pertussis treatment guidelines. The assessment part of the report embraces, in depth Pertussis commercial assessment and clinical assessment of the pipeline products under development. In the report, detailed description of the drug is given which includes mechanism of action of the drug, clinical studies, NDA approvals (if any), and product development activities comprising the technology, Pertussis collaborations, licensing, mergers and acquisition, funding, designations and other product related details.

Pertussis Pipeline Report Highlights

The companies and academics are working to assess challenges and seek opportunities that could influence Pertussis R&D. The therapies under development are focused on novel approaches to treat/improve Pertussis.

Pertussis Emerging Drugs Analysis

This segment of the Pertussis report encloses its detailed analysis of various drugs in different stages of clinical development, including Phase III, II, I, Preclinical and Discovery. It also helps to understand clinical trial details, expressive pharmacological action, agreements and collaborations, and the latest news and press releases.

Pertussis Emerging Drugs

BPZE-1: ILiAD Biotechnologies

BPZE1 is a next-generation live-attenuated pertussis vaccine designed to induce comprehensive and durable protection against B. pertussis infection (colonization) and disease (whooping cough). BPZE1 is being developed to block B. pertussis from colonizing the nasal passages of adults and children, to protect adults and children from whooping cough, and to potentially prevent transmission, including transmission to infants. By blocking B. pertussis colonization in nasal passages, the vaccine may also prevent transmission, thereby reducing the incidence of pertussis disease. Currently, the drug is in Phase II stage of its development for the treatment of pertussis.

GC3111B: GC Biopharma

GC3111B is an investigational tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine being developed by GC Biopharma for the prevention of pertussis, diphtheria, and tetanus. The candidate is an improved version of the company’s earlier GC3111 vaccine and has been designed to enhance immunogenicity, particularly against Bordetella pertussis antigens such as filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA). Preclinical studies demonstrated immune responses and protective efficacy comparable to commercially available Tdap vaccines, including effective bacterial clearance in murine models. In March 2025, South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety approved a Phase I/II clinical trial evaluating the safety and immunogenicity of GC3111B in healthy adults aged 19–64 years, with completion anticipated by the end of 2026. The vaccine is being developed as part of GC Biopharma’s strategy to establish a domestically produced Tdap vaccine in South Korea, reducing reliance on imported vaccines.

Further product details are provided in the report……..

Pertussis Drug Therapeutic Assessment

This segment of the report provides insights about the different Pertussis drugs segregated based on following parameters that define the scope of the report, such as:

Major Pertussis Players in Pertussis

There are approx. 10+ key companies which are developing the therapies for Pertussis. The companies which have their Pertussis drug candidates in the most advanced stage, i.e. Phase II include, ILiAD Biotechnologies.

Pertussis Clinical Trial Phases

DelveInsight’s report covers around 10+ products under different phases of clinical development like

Late stage products (Phase III)
Mid-stage products (Phase II)
Early-stage product (Phase I) along with the details of
Pre-clinical and Discovery stage candidates
Discontinued & Inactive candidates

Pertussis Drug Route of Administration

Pertussis pipeline report provides the therapeutic assessment of the pipeline drugs by the Route of Administration. Products have been categorized under various ROAs such as

Oral
Intravenous
Subcutaneous
Parenteral
Topical

Pertussis Product Molecule Type

Products have been categorized under various Molecule types such as

Recombinant fusion proteins
Small molecule
Monoclonal antibody
Peptide
Polymer
Gene therapy

Pertussis Product Type

Drugs have been categorized under various product types like Mono, Combination and Mono/Combination.

Pertussis Clinical Trial Activities

The Pertussis Pipeline report provides insights into Pertussis Clinical Trial within Phase III, II, I, preclinical and discovery stage. It also analyses Pertussis therapeutic drugs key players involved in developing key drugs.

Pertussis Pipeline Development Activities

The Pertussis Clinical Trial analysis report covers the detailed information of collaborations, acquisition and merger, licensing along with a thorough therapeutic assessment of emerging Pertussis drugs.

Pertussis Pipeline Report Insights

Pertussis Pipeline Analysis
Therapeutic Assessment
Unmet Needs
Impact of Drugs

Pertussis Pipeline Report Assessment

Pipeline Product Profiles
Therapeutic Assessment
Pipeline Assessment
Inactive drugs assessment
Unmet Needs

Key Questions Answered In The Pertussis Pipeline Report

Current Treatment Scenario and Emerging Therapies:

How many companies are developing Pertussis drugs?
How many Pertussis drugs are developed by each company?
How many emerging drugs are in mid-stage, and late-stage of development for the treatment of Pertussis?
What are the key collaborations (Industry–Industry, Industry–Academia), Mergers and acquisitions, licensing activities related to the Pertussis therapeutics?
What are the recent trends, drug types and novel technologies developed to overcome the limitation of existing therapies?
What are the clinical studies going on for Pertussis and their status?
What are the key designations that have been granted to the emerging drugs?