The University of Oxford, through Oxford University Innovation (OUI), has entered into a licence agreement with Serum Institute of India (SII), a Cyrus Poonawalla Group company. The partnership aims to support the development and manufacturing of a new malaria vaccine candidate, R78C, for clinical use.
Focus on Multi-Stage Vaccine Development
Under the agreement, SII has received a non-exclusive, worldwide licence to develop R78C as part of a next-generation multi-stage malaria vaccine. This approach targets the Plasmodium falciparum parasite at multiple stages of its lifecycle, thereby improving the vaccine’s efficacy and durability of protection.
Importantly, the R78C candidate is based on two blood-stage antigens—RIPR and CyPRA—which play a critical role in parasite invasion.
Building on a Strong Collaborative Legacy
Furthermore, this collaboration builds on a long-standing partnership between Oxford and SII. Earlier, in 2019, both organisations signed a licence agreement for the R21 pre-erythrocytic stage vaccine. They also worked together to incorporate the RH5.1 blood-stage vaccine candidate into broader malaria vaccine strategies.
As a result, the current agreement marks a significant step forward in integrating multiple vaccine components into a unified, multi-stage approach.
Enabling Large-Scale Manufacturing and Clinical Progress
As per SII press release, the licence empowers SII to drive continued development, large-scale manufacturing, and potential commercialisation of the vaccine candidate. Consequently, this move is expected to accelerate the vaccine’s progression into clinical evaluation.
Experts Highlight Scientific and Public Health Impact
Commenting on the development, Simon Draper, Professor of Vaccinology and Translational Medicine at Oxford, emphasised the importance of combining multiple antigens. He noted that targeting different stages of the parasite lifecycle could deliver stronger and longer-lasting protection.
He further highlighted that collaboration with SII ensures that, if successful, the vaccine can be manufactured at scale and made accessible to populations most in need.
Similarly, Umesh Shaligram, Executive Director at SII, underscored the need for sustained scientific innovation in malaria prevention. He stated that the agreement strengthens ongoing efforts to develop effective and accessible next-generation vaccines.
In addition, Matthew Carpenter, Deputy Head of Licensing and Ventures for Life Sciences, described the agreement as a key milestone. He pointed out that it enables the integration of R78C with existing vaccine components and translates Oxford’s research into impactful global health solutions.
Expanding the Vaccine Development Ecosystem
In parallel, Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. has entered into a related agreement with ExpreS2ion Biotechnologies to access its proprietary ExpreS2 expression platform. This technology has already supported the clinical-stage production of RH5.1 and R78C vaccine components.
Thus, these collaborations collectively strengthen the broader ecosystem supporting malaria vaccine innovation.
Driving Equitable Access to Vaccines
Notably, the Oxford–Serum partnership has consistently prioritised equitable access to vaccines, particularly for low- and middle-income countries. By leveraging SII’s global manufacturing capabilities, the collaboration aims to ensure that successful vaccine candidates are produced at scale and distributed affordably in malaria-endemic regions.
Addressing a Persistent Global Health Challenge
Malaria continues to pose a significant global health burden, with hundreds of millions of cases reported annually—most of them affecting children in sub-Saharan Africa.
Therefore, the development of more effective vaccines remains a critical pillar in long-term malaria control and eradication strategies. This partnership represents a meaningful step toward achieving that goal.