Scientists at the University of Oxford have created a malaria vaccine that has the potential to ‘change the world’. The team expects it to be rolled out next year. It is after trials showed up to 80% protection against the deadly disease. Moreover, they already have a deal to manufacture more than 100 million doses a year. The charity Malaria No More said recent progress meant children dying from malaria could end “in our lifetimes”.
The Oxford researchers claim their approach is more effective and can be manufactured on a significantly wider scale
It has taken more than a century to develop effective vaccines as the malaria parasite, which is spread by mosquitoes, is spectacularly complex and elusive. It is a constantly moving target, shifting forms inside the body, which make it hard to immunize against. Last year, the World Health Organization gave the historic go-ahead for the first vaccine. It was developed by pharmaceutical giant GSK – to be used in Africa. However, the Oxford team claims their approach is more effective and can be manufactured on a far greater scale.
The Lancet Infectious Diseases has released the trial findings from 409 kids in Nanoro, Burkina Faso. It demonstrates how three initial doses, followed by a booster shot given a year later, can provide up to 80% protection. In the coming weeks, the team will begin the process of getting their vaccine licensed. However, the ultimate decision will depend on the outcomes of a larger experiment including 4,800 kids that is due by the end of the year.Â
The Serum Institute of India has already committed to producing more than 100 million vaccines annually
The world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, the Serum Institute of India, is already lined up to make more than 100 million doses a year. Prof Hill said the vaccine called R21 could be made for “a few dollars.” “We really could be looking at a very substantial reduction in that horrendous burden of malaria”. He added: “We hope that this will be deployed and available and saving lives, certainly by the end of next year.”
Malaria has been one of the biggest scourges on humanity for millennia and mostly kills babies and infants. The disease still kills more than 400,000 people a year even after dramatic progress with bed nets, insecticides, and drugs.
