ICMR’s anti-malaria vax still 6-7 yrs away

INDIA ACCOUNTED FOR HALF OF ALL ESTIMATED MALARIA CASES IN SOUTH-EAST ASIA REGION IN 2023, ACCORDING TO OFFICIAL DATA

- Rhythma Kaul

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has invited an expression of interest for technology transfer to commercialise its anti-malaria vaccine candidate that it is developing in partnership with the department of biotechnology, even though the vaccine is likely to take at least six to seven years to be ready for use, according to people familiar with the matter.

According to the projected timeline, accessed by HT, the “Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) production and toxicology studies” will take approximately two years; “phase | clinical trial, including regulatory approval”, will take another two years; “Phase 2b and Phase 3 Clinical trials” will take approximately two and a half years; and post-trial regulatory clearance and licensing for marketing would take approximately six months. (Each stage includes a buffer period of + six months.)

The recombinant chimeric multistage malaria vaccine (AdFalciVax) is being indigenously developed against plasmodium falciparum— the parasite that predominantly causes severe and fatal malaria, according to ICMR. “In early stages, the vaccine candidate looks useful in preventing plasmodium falciparum infection in humans and minimising its community transmission,” it added.