Big Win For Adar Poonawalla As WHO Recommends Oxford-Serum Institute Malaria Vaccine for Use

The World Health Organization's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts and the Malaria Policy Advisory Group on Monday (October 2) recommended the malaria vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and the Serum Institute of India for usage. The green signal given by the WHO to the vaccine has come as an important development and paved the way for a global roll-out soon.

Globally, almost half a million people die from malaria each year.

According to the University of Oxford website, hundreds of millions of doses of this vaccine, R21/Matrix-M, are to be supplied to countries that are suffering a significant malaria burden. Cost and Manufacturing Capacity

The R21/Matrix-M^TM vaccine is licensed to the Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine manufacturer as well as a long-term partner of Oxford University. The Serum Institute of India has already established a production capacity for 100 million doses per annum, which will be doubled over the next two years, it added.

The website says, "Developed by The University of Oxford and the Serum Institute of India, leveraging Novavax's adjuvant technology, R21/Matrix-M^TM malaria vaccine demonstrates high efficacy with a reassuring safety profile."

Adar Poonawalla, chief executive officer of the Serum Institute of India, said: "For far too long, malaria has threatened the lives of billions of people across the globe, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable amongst us.'' In a statement, he also said: ''This is why the WHO recommendation and approval of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine marks a huge milestone on our journey to combat this life-threatening disease, showing what exactly can be achieved when the public and private sector, scientists and researchers, all work together towards a shared goal."

The vaccine was developed by the Jenner Institute at Oxford University and Serum Institute of India with support from the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership ('EDCTP'), the Wellcome Trust, and the European Investment Bank ('EIB'). To date, the R21/Matrix-MTM malaria vaccine has been licensed for use in Ghana, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso.

Vaccine Roll-Out

With the approval and recommendations by the WHO, additional regulatory approvals are expected to follow shortly and R21/Matrix-M vaccine doses could be ready to begin wider roll-out as early as next year.