First ever malaria vaccine underway

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8 oktober 2013 | After long and large trials, the new malaria vaccine RTS,S is now heading for approval of the European Medicines Agency in 2015, making it ready for use from 2016 onwards. The vaccine promises over 50% less disease cases.

On a major international conference on malaria David Kaslow (PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative) presented the results of the extensive trials held on 15.000 children in various African trial sites. The vaccine has been developed by GlaxoSmithKline.

The vaccine – called RTS,S – was tested on babies from 6 to 12 weeks and on toddlers aged 5 to 7 months. The older children in particular responded well to the vaccine: after 18 months there were 56% less malaria cases in the group. The smaller babies showed 46% less malaria cases.

From the average incidence of malaria across the 11 sites, combined with the fact that single children are prone to as many as four infections a year, the researchers calculate that the jab has the potential to prevent 941 cases of malaria per 1000 children vaccinated in the older age group, and 444 in the babies.