Timeline of malaria vaccine

Abstract

The development of a malaria vaccine began in the 1940s with studies on immunization against malaria in domestic fowls. Throughout the decades, research progressed on various fronts, including attempts to create vaccines using irradiated sporozoites, studies of malaria immunity in rodent models, and the cloning of malaria antigens. In 1984, the RTS,S malaria vaccine candidate was developed through a collaboration between the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and GlaxoSmithKline. It was the first vaccine created by combining the malaria CS protein and hepatitis B surface antigen. Phase III trials in Africa began in 2009 and showed promising results. However, further studies indicated that the vaccine was less effective in infants. In 2015, the World Health Organization recommended pilot implementations of RTS,S in selected areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Currently, research continues on vaccines with improved efficacy and broader protection against malaria. – AI-generated abstract.