A recent study suggests that a malaria vaccine, developed with the assistance of scientists from Britain’s Oxford University, is exhibiting up to 78% efficacy in the youngest children. In 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended the R21/Matrix-M vaccine for use. The vaccine has shown promising results in a phase 3 trial conducted in African children, confirming its effectiveness and safety.

During the trial in Burkina Faso, Kenya, Mali, and Tanzania, researchers vaccinated over 4,800 young children. The results revealed an average efficacy of 78% in the five to 17-month age group over the first year, surpassing the effectiveness of other vaccines for the same age group. The findings, published in The Lancet, showed that a booster dose at a year maintained good efficacy over the subsequent six to 12 months. The overall efficacy ranged from 68% to 75% for children aged five to 36 months.

The Serum Institute of India (SII) has already manufactured 25 million doses in preparation for rollout within the next three to four months. The study also observed increased immune responses and slightly higher vaccine efficacy in five to 17-month-olds compared to 18 to 36-month-olds, supporting the planned deployment of the vaccine from five months of age in African children. Malaria, the leading cause of death in young African children, claims the lives of approximately 600,000 children annually.

Two vaccines have recently completed WHO pre-qualification, and initial deployments are commencing early this year. Professor Adrian Hill, the chief investigator of the R21/Matrix-M phase 3 trial, expressed optimism about the continued high efficacy of the new vaccine, emphasizing its potential impact on malaria in children.

Audrey Duncanson, innovations transition manager at Welcome, highlighted the significance of the recent phase 3 trial, noting its potential to bring about transformation in the fight against malaria. Adar Poonawalla, chief executive of SSI, stressed the importance of making the vaccine readily accessible in Africa to combat the substantial threat that malaria poses to millions of lives. The vaccine is affordable, with each dose costing between $2.00 to $4.00.

Notably, at least 28 African countries intend to incorporate the WHO-recommended malaria vaccine into their national immunization programs. Novavax AB provides the Matrix-M adjuvant, which is used to enhance the body’s immune response in some vaccines, to SII for formulation into the final vaccine drug product.

The Lancet study on R21/Matrix-M phase 3 trials represents a significant stride in the global battle against malaria, bringing humanity closer to a malaria-free world.