The first malaria vaccine RTS,S: A step towards eradication of malaria

Document Type : Mini Review

Authors

1 Department of Zoology Ramjas College University of Delhi Delhi India 110007

2 Department of Zoology Dyal Singh College University of Delhi

10.22092/ari.2023.363806.2896

Abstract

Malaria is a mosquito-borne life-threatening illness caused by the parasites, Plasmodium. Around 50% of the world’s population is at danger of this infectious disease. Antimalarial drug-Artemisinin, extracted from the plant Artemisia annua and has become a fundamental part of treatment regime for malaria across the world. The use of Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) against uncomplicated malaria has been endorsed by World Health Organization (WHO). As per the latest World malaria report (2022), around 247 million malaria cases were reported in 2021 from 84 malaria endemic nations (including the territory of French Guiana), a considerable upsurge from 245 million reported in the year 2020. One of the foremost reasons for this increase was linked with disturbance to services for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment measures during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. On 6th of October 2021, the WHO suggested RTS,S vaccine, the first malaria vaccine, for its use against Plasmodium falciparum malaria in children residing in areas with moderate to high transmission. In July 2022, WHO granted prequalification support for the RTS,S vaccine. One million plus children living in African countries (mainly Ghana, Kenya and Malawi) have got at least one dose of this groundbreaking malaria vaccine through programmes coordinated by WHO and international and country-level partners. RTS,S is a significant initial footstep in the path to production of other highly protective vaccines/multi-stage vaccines that may become a part of the malaria eradication programs in near future. Several malariologists are working on early clinical development or trial phases of first-generation and next-generation malaria vaccines, such as R21/Matrix-M, and malaria vaccine using mRNA technology.

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Archives of Razi Institute

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 11 December 2023

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