New Malaria Vaccine Can be a Game Changer in Curtailing Malaria

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Contents

1 Background:
2 About Malaria:
3 About the Previous Version:
4 About the new version:
5 Need of New Malaria Vaccine:
6 What’s next?

Synopsis:

Phase 2b clinical trials of R21/Matrix M (a new malaria vaccine) have shown the efficacy of 77%. It is a new version of RTS, S — another candidate against malaria. Experts believe that this new version could be a game-changer in curtailing the spread of malaria across the globe, especially during pandemic times.

Background:

The results of phase 2b clinical trials of R21/Matrix M were published recently in the Lancet Journal.
The new malaria vaccine showed an efficacy of 77%, much higher than its previous version named RTS,S.

About Malaria:

Firstly, it is caused by the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito if the mosquito itself is infected with a malarial parasite.
Secondly, there are five kinds of malarial parasites — Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax (the commonest ones), Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium ovale, and Plasmodium knowlesi.
Thirdly, according to the World Malaria Report 2020, cases of Malaria in India dropped from about 20 million in 2000 to about 5.6 million in 2019.
Fourthly, globally 39 countries have declared themselves Malaria free.
- As per WHO, a country can be declared malaria-free when it reports zero indigenous cases of malaria for 3 or more years.

About the Previous Version:

RTS, S has been in development for more than 30 years. It is a joint work of Walter Reed Institute of Research, GlaxoSmithKline, and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation with the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative.
It targets the liver stage protein of the Plasmodium falciparum life cycle.
Thus, it stops the Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasite from entering the liver thereby preventing the subsequent deadly blood stages.
To date, it is the only vaccine to reduce malaria in children. However, it doesn’t have high efficacy.

About the new version:

R21/Matrix M is a modified version of RTS, S.
Scientists at the University of Oxford have been developing it for the last 6-7years. Serum Institute of India is manufacturing it.
The vaccine trial began in 2014-15 on 450 children in Burkina Faso.
The result of the phase 2b trial showed a 77% efficacy. This made it the first vaccine to reach WHO’s goal of at least 75% efficacy.

Need of New Malaria Vaccine:

High Incidence of Malaria: In 2019, there were an estimated 229 million cases of malaria and 409 000 malaria-related deaths in 87 countries. In the same year, India witnessed 5.6 million cases.
- Under 5 children in sub-saharan Africa accounted for approximately two-thirds of global deaths.
Greater Hardships posed by Pandemic: As per a WHO survey, approximately one-third of countries around the world reported disruptions in malaria prevention, diagnosis and treatment services during the first quarter of 2021.
- Disruptions occurred as people were unable or unwilling to seek care in health facilities.
- Further lockdowns and restrictions on the movement led to delays in the delivery of insecticide-treated mosquito nets.

What’s next?

Serum Institute of India and US vaccine maker Novavax have begun the process of phase 3 trials in 4 African countries.
- This would assess large-scale safety and efficacy in 4,800 children aged five to 36 months.
The success of the trial would enable bulk production of the vaccine that would help curtail malaria across the globe.

Source: Indian Express