European Medicines Agency has given the world’s first malaria vaccine a go ahead after accessing its safety and effectiveness.
The Vaccine called Mosquirix was developed by GlaxoSmithKline. According to the BBC, the World Health Organisation will consider later this year whether to recommend it for children, among whom trials have yielded mixed results.
Dr Ripley Ballou, head of research at GSK vaccines, said: “This is a hugely significant moment. I’ve been working on this vaccine for 30 years and this is a dream come true.”
Although GSK have not revealed the price of the vaccine, they have pledged not to make any profit from it.
In 2001 GSK established a partnership with the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative, through a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, with the aim of accelerating development of malaria vaccines.
Steve Davis, president and CEO of PATH said “Today marks a significant scientific milestone for the long-standing partnership to develop a vaccine, yet several more steps remain before a malaria vaccine might reach the young children in Africa who most need protection against this deadly human parasite.”
The Vaccine works by triggering the immune system to defend against the first stages of infection after it enters the bloodstream following a mosquito bite.
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