Vax boost for coeliacs

A VACCINE to allow coeliac disease sufferers to eat gluten is a step closer with clinical trials about to enter their second stage at the University of the Sunshine Coast.

Coeliac disease is a serious chronic medical condition in which eating gluten, even in small amounts, leads to an immune response that causes damage to the small intestine.

The vaccine aims to “switch off” that immune response.

USC’s Clinical Trials Centre director Lucas Litewka said phase one of the trial last year showed the vaccine was well tolerated by patients.