New Malaria Vaccine Offers Hope in the Fight Against a Deadly Disease
The ‘R21 (MatrixM)’ malaria vaccine, developed by the prestigious University of Oxford, has recently received its second global approval, marking a significant milestone in the battle against one of humanity’s greatest scourges. With malaria claiming the lives of approximately 500,000 people worldwide each year, this groundbreaking vaccine provides a much-needed boost in the fight against the disease.
Malaria, often fatal among infants and young children, has presented a persistent challenge due to the difficulty in developing natural immunity or an effective vaccine. However, the approval of R21 by the World Health Organization (WHO) now offers a ray of hope in the global effort to eradicate malaria. The vaccine, like its predecessor ‘RTS,S (Mosquirix)’ developed by British pharmaceutical company GSK, contains the antigen protein of the Plasmodium parasite responsible for causing malaria.
The existing RTS,S vaccine, recommended for use since 2021, has already been administered to 1.8 million children in countries such as Malawi and Kenya, with plans to reach nine additional African countries by year-end. However, the limited availability of 18 million doses of the RTS,S vaccine between now and 2025 threatens to leave many of the approximately 40 million children born in malaria-infected regions vulnerable. Mass production challenges have prevented the supply from meeting the demand for this crucial vaccine.
The newly developed R21 vaccine, on the other hand, offers a more promising solution. It incorporates adjuvants that are easier to produce compared to the RTS,S vaccine, allowing for the same level of effectiveness with a smaller dosage. Collaboration with the Serum Institute of India (SII), one of the largest vaccine producers globally, has enabled the production of over 100 million doses of R21 annually.
Moreover, the cost-effectiveness of the R21 vaccine is another significant advantage. While the current vaccine is priced at approximately 9.30 euros per dose, R21 is available at less than 5 dollars per dose, making it nearly half the cost. The World Health Organization has affirmed the comparability of the two vaccines in terms of efficacy, with no evidence suggesting superiority of either option.
Malaria, once considered eradicated in Korea, reemerged in 1993 and continues to pose a challenge in certain regions. Though Korea is primarily a malaria-free country, sporadic cases occur between April and October, predominantly in the metropolitan and Gangwon areas. Last year alone, there were notable incidences, with June witnessing 6 to 55 cases, July with 41 cases, August with 49 cases, and September with 42 cases. Of these, September accounted for an alarming 79% of the total intense cases.
In exciting news, an agreement has already been reached to produce over 100 million doses of the R21 vaccine annually. This development brings hope that there will be an adequate supply of vaccines to benefit all children living in areas at risk of malaria, as affirmed by the World Health Organization.
Chemical News Reporter: Park Joo-hyun
Chemistry is everywhere. © Chemical News. Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited.
The ‘R21’ malaria vaccine was developed at the University of Oxford
A fever known as ‘Hakjil’, Korea is a country prone to malaria.
R21, contains an immune booster, providing the same effect with a much smaller dose
‘RTS,S (Mosquirix)’ developed by the British pharmaceutical company GSK, recommended for use from 2021
The ‘R21 (MatrixM)’ malaria vaccine developed at the University of Oxford has been approved for the second time in the world. Now we have another powerful weapon against malaria, which kills 500,000 people worldwide every year.
Plasmodium Malaria/PLOS Biology
Malaria has been one of humanity’s greatest scourges, causing death mainly among infants and young children. This is because it is difficult to develop natural immunity when contracting malaria, and it is difficult to develop a vaccine.
R21 is the second malaria vaccine approved by the World Health Organization (WHO). The first vaccine, ‘RTS,S (Mosquirix)’ developed by the British pharmaceutical company GSK, has been recommended for use since 2021. Both vaccines contain the antigen protein of the Plasmodium parasite which causes malaria.
The current RTS,S vaccine has been provided to 1.8 million children in Malawi and Kenya, and vaccines are expected to reach nine other African countries by the end of this year. However, the 18 million doses of RTS,S vaccine expected to be available between now and 2025 are said to be insufficient to protect the approximately 40 million children born in malaria-infected areas every year. RTS,S has been identified as a problem as mass production is difficult and supply cannot keep up with demand.
Newly developed and approved malaria vaccine ‘R21 (MatrixM)’ / Capture from Science magazine
However, the new R21 vaccine contains other adjuvants or adjuvants that are slightly easier to produce than the vaccine used in RTS,S. The same effect can be achieved by giving a much smaller dose of the vaccine. Vaccine developers are said to have collaborated with the Serum Institute of India (SII), one of the world’s largest vaccine producers, to produce R21. SII said it can produce more than 100 million doses of vaccine a year.
According to UNICEF, when UNICEF buys the current vaccine for the first time, it costs 9.30 euros (about 13,000 won) per dose, while the new vaccine costs less than 5 dollars (about 6,800 won ‘to win) per dose It’s about half as cheap as that. The World Health Organization said the effectiveness of the two vaccines was “very similar” and that there was no evidence to suggest that one was better than the other.
Market Questions and Answers UNICEF Vaccine Supply Supply Prices Hold Cover
Malaria is a fever known as a ‘hard disease’ in Korea and it mainly occurs in tropical regions, however, Korea is a country where malaria has disappeared but has reappeared since 1993. It mainly occurs in the metropolitan area and Gangwon area between April and October when the weather starts to warm up. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, last year, there were 6 to 55 cases in June, 41 cases in July, 49 cases in August, and 42 cases in September. In September, 79% of the total (187 people) showed intense cases.
Meanwhile, according to the BBC on the 3rd, an agreement has already been signed to produce more than 100 million doses a year.
WHO recently stated that it expects there to be a sufficient supply of vaccines for the benefit of all children living in areas where malaria is a risk to public health.
Chemical News Reporter Park Joo-hyun
Chemistry is everywhere. Copyright © Chemical News Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited
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