Promising results for anti-malaria vaccine candidate, led by EU-funded Oxford University team

30.04.2021

An EU-funded Europe-Africa vaccine consortium led by Professor Adrian Hill from Oxford University’s Jenner Institute reported 77% efficacy for their multi-stage anti-malaria vaccine candidate. The result is based on clinical trials in Burkina Faso and is the first to reach the WHO specified goal of at least 75% efficacy.

The Multi-Stage Malaria Vaccine Consortium aims to develop the first vaccine that targets all four life cycle stages of the Plasmodium falciparum parasite. The trial of 450 children between 5 and 17 months – carried by Professor Halidou Tinto of the Institute of Research in Health Sciences (IRSS) in Burkina Faso - showed a favourable safety profile and was well tolerated. The vaccine candidate uses vector technology similar to those used in some of the COVID vaccines. The researchers think their vaccine candidate has potential for large-scale manufacturing and low cost supply. They have now started recruiting for a much bigger trial – 4,800 children across four countries.

This anti-malaria vaccine candidate was funded with €15 million by the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Programme (EDCTP). Launched in 2003 and renewed in 2014 with funding through to 2024, the EDCTP is an EU-funded partnership between institutions mandated by the governments of 14 European and 16 African countries. During the lifetime of this research, the Oxford team was also supported with €6 million by the EU’s Framework Programme 7. They also lead a €5 million EU project on a vaccine candidate targeting another Plasmodium species, and they have a further grant of €20 million from Horizon2020 to identify new antigens that could lead to further vaccine candidates.

Further information on the clinical trials – Oxford University

More detail about the international consortium – EDCTP website