Low-Cost Malaria Vaccine found Efficacious in The Lancet Journal study
In a recent development, the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine has demonstrated remarkable efficacy, surpassing 75% in a phase 3 trial involving over 4800 children across four African countries. This significant milestone in the fight against malaria holds the potential to alleviate the burden of the disease in sub-Saharan Africa.
This study was published in The Lancet journal by Mehreen S Datoo and colleagues. The study not only validates the vaccine's effectiveness but also highlights its safety and widespread acceptance, with several African countries already licensing it.
Key Study Details:
Design: Double-blind, randomized, phase 3 trial conducted across five sites in four African countries.
Participants: Enrolled children aged 5–36 months, randomly assigned to receive R21/Matrix-M or a control rabies vaccine.
Dosing: Three doses administered 4 weeks apart, with a booster at 12 months.
Endpoints: Primary objective focused on protective efficacy at seasonal and standard sites over 12 months after completing the primary series.
Key Findings:
Efficacy: The R21/Matrix-M vaccine exhibited a 75% efficacy at seasonal sites and 68% at standard sites against the first clinical malaria episode, with a reduction of 868 and 296 cases per 1000 children-years, respectively.
Safety: Well-tolerated, with injection site pain and fever as the most common adverse events. No treatment-related deaths occurred, and adverse events did not significantly differ between vaccine groups.
Antibody Response: Vaccine-induced antibodies targeting the conserved circumsporozoite protein correlated with efficacy. Higher antibody titers were observed in the 5–17 month age group, showing the highest efficacy.
The R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine emerges as a low-cost, high-efficacy solution, earning WHO policy recommendation and prequalification. With its acceptance by several African countries and promising results in reducing clinical malaria, this breakthrough marks a significant stride in combating the malaria burden in sub-Saharan Africa.
Reference:
Mehreen S Datoo, DPhil, Alassane Dicko, PhD *, Halidou Tinto, PhD *, Jean-Bosco Ouédraogo, MD, Mainga Hamaluba, MD, Ally Olotu, DPhil et al.Safety and efficacy of malaria vaccine candidate R21/Matrix-M in African children: a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, phase 3 trial. The Lancet, 2024. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(23)02511-4/fulltext#%20
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