R21Matrix-M Malaria Vaccine Shows Promise in Phase 3 Trial
Groundbreaking Results Published in The Lancet
Malaria Vaccine Breakthrough
Chennai, India - December 21, 2023 - Today, the R21Matrix-M malaria vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and the Serum Institute of India showed promising results in a Phase 3 efficacy trial. The findings were published in the prestigious medical journal The Lancet.The R21Matrix-M vaccine contains R21 antigen, which was developed by the University of Oxford and specifically targets the malaria parasite. It also includes Novavax's Matrix-M, a saponin-based adjuvant that enhances the immune response.
The Phase 3 trial was conducted in nearly 4,000 children aged 5-17 in Kenya and Burkina Faso. The results showed that the vaccine was 77% effective in preventing clinical malaria and 88% effective in preventing severe malaria.
This breakthrough has the potential to significantly reduce the burden of malaria, which is one of the leading causes of death in children under five in Africa. The developers of the vaccine hope to make it widely available in low- and middle-income countries, where malaria is most prevalent.
Comments