Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) dispatched its inaugural shipment of malaria vaccines, R21/Matrix-M, to Africa. The initial consignment is bound for the Central African Republic (CAR), with subsequent deliveries planned for other African nations like South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the coming days.
Specifically, 1,63,800 doses of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine have been earmarked for the CAR region, of which currently 43,200 doses are being sent out from the Serum Institute of India’s facilities. The malaria vaccine, developed in partnership with the University of Oxford and Novavax, marks the second vaccine authorized for use in children in malaria-prone areas.
Collaborating with the Jenner Institute at Oxford University and leveraging Novavax’s saponin-based adjuvant technology, the Serum Institute of India received support from various entities including the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP), the Wellcome Trust, and the European Investment Bank (EIB).
According to SII, they have produced 25 million doses thus far and have the capability to ramp up production to 100 million doses annually. In 2022, the WHO Africa region accounted for 94% of malaria cases (233 million) and 95% (580,000) of malaria-related deaths. India reported an estimated 3.38 million cases and 5,511 deaths.
Currently, no malaria vaccine is part of India’s national program. As reported by Hindustan Times, the vaccine received WHO approval for children’s use in October last year. Recently, its developers released Phase 3 trial data demonstrating high efficacy.