The trial of malaria vaccine achieved positive results

British pharmaceutical manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) aims to commercialize the world's first malaria vaccine in 2014 after tests in African children gave positive results.

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This information was announced by GSK at a medical conference held in Durban (South Africa) on October 7, with the participation of experts in the field of malaria control.

The vaccine, called RTS.S, has been tested in 11 regions in 7 African countries with more than 15,000 children and babies vaccinated. The results showed that it helped reduce almost half of malaria cases in children and about a quarter of newborns.

Specifically, after 18 months after vaccination, the number of children aged 17 months to 5 years reduced the risk of malaria by 46%; Infants born from 6 to 12 weeks of age have lower results with a 27% reduction.

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GSK said that based on the test results, they will submit a license application to the European Drug Administration (EMA) in 2014. Also according to GSK, World Health Organization (WHO), agency The United Nations health sector leader recommended RTS.S vaccine as early as 2015 if licensed by the EMA.

RTS.S is the result of cooperation between GSK and organization "PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative" (MVI) with the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

PATH Deputy Director of Product Development David Kaslow said that RTS.S will be a useful tool in protecting the health of millions of children in Africa in addition to other malaria prevention measures such as screenings. mosquitoes, insecticides and anti-malarial drugs.

However, the hopes that RTS.S will be the best malaria vaccine seem to be too early when the last trial of 6,537 newborns last year showed modest results with the possible prevention is only 30%.

In addition, the effectiveness of prevention is reduced over time. After one year after vaccination, the ability to prevent normal malaria and malaria in children is 47% and 56%, in newborns respectively 46 and 36%. Meanwhile, after 18 months, the ability to prevent normal malaria and malaria in children is only 46% and 36%, in newborns, respectively 27% and 15%.

About 220 million people are infected with malaria and nearly 660,000 people die each year in the world, mainly babies in the poorest areas in the southern Sahara. Scientists believe that an effective vaccine will be the key to preventing this disease.