Oxford and Serum Institute Partner for Next-Gen Malaria Vaccine

The University of Oxford and the Serum Institute of India (SII) have entered into a licence agreement to advance the development and manufacture of a new malaria vaccine candidate known as R78C. The agreement, announced April 25, 2026, is intended to support the use of the candidate in clinical settings.

Through Oxford University Innovation (OUI), the university has granted SII a non-exclusive, worldwide licence to develop R78C. This candidate is designed to serve as a component of a next-generation multi-stage malaria vaccine.

The R78C candidate is based on two blood-stage antigens of Plasmodium falciparum, specifically RIPR and CyPRA. By focusing on these antigens, the vaccine aims to target the malaria parasite at multiple points in its lifecycle.

The primary goal of this multi-stage approach is to improve the overall efficacy and the durability of protection provided to patients. Targeting the parasite at different stages of its development is viewed as a major step toward creating a more robust defense against the disease.

Building on Existing Partnerships

This new agreement builds upon a longstanding collaboration between the University of Oxford and the Serum Institute of India. The two organizations previously entered into a licence in 2019 for the R21 pre-erythrocytic stage vaccine.

Following the R21 agreement, the partners worked to further incorporate the RH5.1 blood-stage vaccine candidate into their efforts to combat malaria.

The Serum Institute of India, a Cyrus Poonawalla group company, is recognized as the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer by volume. This capacity is central to the agreement, as the licence enables SII to support the large-scale manufacture and potential future commercialisation of the multi-stage vaccine candidate.

The involvement of SII is expected to accelerate the progression of the vaccine candidate into clinical evaluation, moving the research closer to practical application in public health settings.

Development and Scientific Goals

The RH5.1 and R78C blood-stage vaccine candidates were developed in the laboratory of Professor Simon Draper FMedSci, who serves as the Professor of Vaccinology and Translational Medicine in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Oxford.

This agreement marks an important milestone in our efforts to develop a highly effective multi-stage malaria vaccine. By combining multiple antigens that target different stages of the parasite lifecycle, we aim to achieve stronger and longer-lasting protection.

Professor Simon Draper FMedSci

By integrating components that address the parasite at various stages, the researchers aim to overcome the limitations of single-stage vaccines, potentially offering a more sustainable long-term solution for malaria prevention.