A Functional Malaria Vaccine Possible in Near Future

Malaria - a mosquito born disease - is responsible for approximately one million deaths per year. Most of the one million are African children or infants. The current candidate for a vaccine (RTS,S) has done well in trials. The phase I and phase II trials have already been completed, showing promising results.

In the first two phases, the drug has been able to prevent the acquisition of the disease by young children in Africa. The next phase of trials will start soon, and the people behind the Vaccine Initiative are very excited.

The director of the study, Dr. Christian Loucq, said “These studies offer further evidence that RTS,S provides both infants and young children with substantial protection against the disease. We are closer than ever before to having a malaria vaccine for use by the children in Africa.”