Building momentum for malaria vaccine research and development: key considerations

Pedro Alonso,Adelaide Shearley,Philip Bejon,Socrates Herrera,N. Regina Rabinovich,Kate O’Brien,Halidou Tinto,Marian Wentworth,Edwin J. Asturias,Meta Roestenberg,Chetan E. Chitnis,Brendan S. Crabb,Johan Vekemans,Miriam Laufer,David Schellenberg,Katharine A. Collins

doi:10.1186/s12936-020-03491-3

Abstract

To maintain momentum towards improved malaria control and elimination, a vaccine would be a key addition to the intervention toolkit. Two approaches are recommended: (1) promote the development and short to medium term deployment of first generation vaccine candidates and (2) support innovation and discovery to identify and develop highly effective, long-lasting and affordable next generation malaria vaccines.

Highlights

New interventions are needed to reignite the fight against malaria
Recent advances in the understanding of malaria parasite biology, vaccinology and passive immunization approaches, suggest that the advance in malaria vaccines is within reach─but only with sustained research and development efforts
Detailed World Health Organization (WHO) perspectives on the medical need and research priorities in malaria vaccine R&D will emerge over the 12–24 months, but consultations and Malaria Vaccine Advisory Committee (MALVAC) discussions led to the recognition of the need to advance in parallel two distinct strategies: 1. To support continued engagement to ensure the availability of 1st and 2nd generation vaccine candidates with moderate efficacy, that show potential for widespread use in the 3–10 years

Summary

Background

In what is a truly great public health success story, expanded efforts to control and eliminate malaria have effectively halved malaria incidence and mortality since 2000. Several million lives have been saved in that time and a number of previously endemic countries in Asia, South and Central America and Africa have been formally declared malaria free This astonishing success has been achieved with a limited toolkit, largely comprising methods to prevent transmission by the mosquito vector through the use of insecticide-treated bed nets and indoor residual spraying, the use of chemoprevention in specific, vulnerable groups, and effective chemotherapy following rapid point-of-care diagnosis.

Main text

Conclusion