GSK (GSK) said Thursday it has licensed its Shigella vaccine candidate, altSonflex1-2-3, to Bharat Biotech for further development and potential distribution in low- and middle-income countries where Shigella is a leading cause of diarrheal disease in children.

The vaccine has shown promising results in early clinical trials and is designed to target the most common Shigella serotypes, the company said.

Bharat Biotech will lead late-stage development and large-scale manufacturing, with GSK supporting phase 3 trial design and helping secure external funding, GSK added.

The agreement aims to address Shigella's significant health burden in children under five and reduce antibiotic use, which could help combat antimicrobial resistance, the company said.