The pan-African trial in 6,000 children aged five to 17 months
found the vaccine reduced the numbers infected with the most
serious form of malaria by 56 per cent, in the 12 months after
vaccination, compared to those who did not receive the jab. It
also reduced the number of severe malaria cases by 47 per cent.
As little as a decade ago vaccine experts considered the
challenge of tackling the mosquito-borne infection impossible.
But scientists on the project said the results proved that
“innovation and a lot of hard work” paid off in the end. The
vaccine, RTS,S, is a collaboration between GSK, the drugs giant;
the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the PATH Malaria Vaccine
Initiative and individual African research centres. Dr Chris
Elias, chief executive officer of PATH, said: “Today, in the
face of a seemingly intractable challenge, resignation is moving
aside in favour of hope and possibility. We are on track to make
history with this vaccine trial.” GSK has invested some $300
million (£191m) in the proje