A new highly effective R21/Matrix-M™ malaria vaccine, co-developed by the University of Oxford and Serum Institute of India (SII) began its rollout in Africa this week.
In a historic step in the battle to beat malaria, the first official vaccination took place in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and will be subsequently rolled-out in 38 districts across the country. Fifteen African countries are expected to introduce malaria vaccines with Gavi support this year, and countries plan to reach around 6.6 million children with the malaria vaccine in 2024-2025.
Adar Poonawalla, SII CEO, says: “Reducing the malaria burden is finally within sight. Today’s start of the R21/Matrix-M™ vaccine roll-out marks a monumental milestone after years of incredible work with our partners at Oxford and Novavax.”
“At Serum, we believe that it is every person’s right to have access to affordable and essential disease prevention. That’s why we have committed to producing 100 million doses of R21, which will protect millions of lives and alleviate the burden of this deadly disease for future generations.”
“We are thrilled to collaborate with our global partners and excited to continue playing a leading role in eliminating a disease that has been so challenging to beat.”
Every year 600,000 people die of malaria in Africa, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Although the number of malaria-related deaths has fallen from 3,222 in 2017 to 1,316 in 2020 in Côte d'Ivoire, the mosquito-borne disease kills four people a day, mostly small children, and "remains the leading cause of medical consultations", according to the country’s Ministry of Health.
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R21/Matrix-M™ was co-developed by the University of Oxford and Serum Institute of India, leveraging Novavax’s Matrix-M™ adjuvant technology. In December 2023, the WHO granted R21/Matrix-M™ prequalification status, following a rigorous regulatory process and clinical assessment. Trials also demonstrated that the vaccine was well tolerated, with a good safety profile, with injection site pain and fever as the most frequent adverse events.
In anticipation of the rollout, SII has manufactured 25 million doses of the vaccine and is committed to scaling up to 100 million doses annually. In keeping with its aim of delivering vaccines at scale and low cost, SII is offering the vaccine at less than $4 per dose. SII’s production capability means this highly effective and affordable, low-dose malaria vaccine can be manufactured at speed and scale, critical to stemming the spread of disease, as well as protecting the vaccinated.
According to Oxford University, it signifies the culmination of years of dedicated research and manufacturing efforts by the university and SII and is the start of a pivotal phase that could see many lives saved.
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Professor Adrian Hill, Director of the Jenner Institute at Oxford University, says: “The roll-out of the R21/Matrix-M™ malaria vaccine marks the start of a new era in malaria control interventions with the high efficacy vaccine now accessible at a modest price and very large scale to many countries in greatest need. We hope that very soon this vaccine can be provided to all countries in Africa who wish to use it.”
A total of 656,600 doses have been received, which will initially vaccinate 250,000 children aged between 0 and 23 months across 16 regions of Côte d'Ivoire. The R21/Matrix-M vaccine has also been authorised by Ghana, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and the Central African Republic.
