Malaria vaccine on the way

The world's first malaria vaccine for children could be on sale as early as 2015. The announcement was made at the sixth Pan African Malaria Conference in Durban this week. This follows the successful trial of the vaccine named RTS,S, developed for the most deadly strain of malaria.

The development of RTS,S has been supported by pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline, in conjunction with the Path Malaria Vaccine Initiative, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The company has spent $350 million (R3.48 billion) to date and the foundation has spent $200 million on the trials.

Following the latest trial, GlaxoSmithKline wants to get regulatory approval to develop a vaccine from the European Medicines Agency next year. If brought to market, the World Health Organisation said, "The vaccine would reduce the number of cases of malaria in vaccinated children, but would not prevent all episodes of malaria". In the trial, the vaccine or a placebo was given to 15 460 babies aged six weeks to 17 months in seven African countries.

The study found that children who received the vaccine, aged five to 17 months, had 46 percent less chance of contracting malaria in 18 months compared with children who were given a placebo. The vaccine was less effective when it was given to babies between six and 12 weeks old. Unfortunately, the vaccine's effectiveness waned over time.

Researchers are testing whether a fourth booster vaccination, given 18 months after the first three doses, will extend its effectiveness. Africa records nearly 600 000 deaths from malaria annually, mainly in children under five. The vaccine for children is not likely to be rolled out in South Africa, where malaria more commonly affects adults. Professor Lucille Blumberg, chairman of the South African Malaria Elimination Committee, said South Africa did not need the vaccine as the country was on its way to eliminating the disease.

Blumberg said the programme had seen malaria cases drop from 600 00 in 2000 to less than 7 000 cases last year. This was due to the successful treatment of people with malaria and indoor insecticide spraying.

Katharine Child: The Times, 9 October 2013