Source: The post ICMR develops new malaria vaccine with promising results has been created, based on the article “Vaccine hope in malaria fight” published in “Indian Express” on 24th July 2025
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper3- Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life.
Context: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has introduced a new malaria vaccine candidate, AdFalciVax, which targets Plasmodium falciparum. This development comes as part of ongoing efforts to combat malaria, a disease responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths globally. ICMR aims to partner with private firms to advance testing and commercial production. ICMR develops new malaria vaccine with promising results
Malaria: Persistent Threat and Global Burden
- Nature and Impact of the Disease: Malaria is a mosquito-borne parasitic disease, with symptoms ranging from fever to potentially fatal complications like seizures and organ failure. Despite progress, it continues to claim around 4 lakh lives annually worldwide.
- Prevalence and Mortality Trends: Africa bears the highest burden, with countries like Nigeria and Congo accounting for most deaths. In India, malaria cases have declined, with official deaths dropping from 1,151 in 1995 to 83 in 2022. However, WHO estimates a higher toll (5,511 deaths in 2022), reflecting underreporting in official data.
- Vaccine Development Challenges: Efforts to develop a malaria vaccine have spanned decades. Two vaccines, RTS,S and R21, have been approved, but their 75% efficacy is modest. This creates
urgency for more effective solutions like AdFalciVax.
Understanding AdFalciVax and Its Dual Mechanism
- Vaccine Composition and Function: AdFalciVax is a chimeric recombinant vaccine using parts of the Plasmodium gene to trigger an immune response. It targets two proteins: CSP and Pro6C, addressing both individual protection and transmission prevention.
- Blocking Infection in Individuals: The CSP protein is effective during both the sporozoite and liver stages of the parasite. It helps generate immunity that protects the vaccinated person from contracting malaria.
- Breaking the Transmission Chain: Pro6C, a fusion of Pfs230 and Pfs48/45, disrupts the parasite’s lifecycle in mosquitoes, reducing the spread of infection within the community.
Comparative Advantages Over Existing Vaccines
- Broader Protection and Stronger Response: Unlike RTS,S and R21, AdFalciVax uses full-length CSP and the Pro6C protein. This broader targeting is expected to produce a more robust immune response.
- Extended Immunity: Animal trials show over 90% protection in mice. Preliminary results suggest that three doses may offer long-lasting immunity equivalent to nearly a decade in human terms.
- Safer and Stable Adjuvant Use: AdFalciVax uses alum as an adjuvant, which is safer than alternatives used in other vaccines. Alum is well-tested and does not cause chronic inflammation, unlike AS01 or Matrix M.
- Improved Storage and Transportation: Alum-based formulation remains stable at room temperature for at least nine months, potentially reducing cold chain dependency and easing distribution logistics.
ICMR’s Partnership Framework for Development
- Private Sector Collaboration Requirements: ICMR seeks private partners to conduct human trials and scale up production. It will retain the technology and share intellectual property rights with the selected company.
- Revenue and Credit Sharing: ICMR will receive 2% royalty on vaccine sales. Research contributions and data will be jointly owned, with co-authorship rights for both ICMR and the partner firm in any publications.
Question for practice:
Examine the significance of ICMR’s development of AdFalciVax in the fight against malaria.
