RMRC Bhubaneswar develops advanced malaria vaccine, ready for tech transfer
The new recombinant, chimeric multi-stage vaccine code-named AdFalciVax has been designed to protect against the deadliest malaria parasite in humans. It is now ready for technology transfer to manufacturers for production, clinical trials and its commercialisation.
Currently, two malaria vaccines are available and cost in a range of `250 to `830 per dose. The efficacy rate is between 33 per cent and 67 per cent. Unlike existing WHO-recommended vaccines RTS,S/AS01 (Mosquirix) and R21/Matrix-M, AdFalciVax offers dual-stage protection and is cost-effective.
Scientist-D at RMRC Dr Susheel Singh said the new vaccine can prevent human infection and interrupt transmission in the community. 'AdFalciVax uses a full-length PfCSP, a major protein found in Pf, for broader protection and includes a novel fusion of Pfs230 and Pfs48/45 proteins to produce strong antibodies that stop the transmission,' he said.
What makes AdFalciVax stand out among the existing vaccines is its exceptional pharmaceutical stability. The formulation remains potent for over nine months at room temperature, eliminating the need for costly cold chain logistics, which continue to be a major bottleneck in vaccine distribution across remote and resource-limited regions.
According to the researchers, the vaccine has been developed with the help of cutting-edge protein engineering using Lactococcus lactis, a safe bacterial host. The pre-clinical validation of the technology has been conducted by RMRC in collaboration with National Institute of Malaria Research (NIMR) and National Institute of Immunology (NII), New Delhi.
RMRC director Dr Sanghamitra Pati said, 'The vaccine's efficacy was sustained for over four months post-boost, which translates to over a decade of protection in humans.'
Meanwhile, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), New Delhi has invited expressions of interest from the eligible organisations, companies and manufacturers for transfer of technology and commercialisation.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Indian Express
ICMR invites partners to launch and sell its new malaria vaccine
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has invited the country's vaccine manufacturers to partner with it to launch and sell a malaria vaccine that its Regional Medical Research Centre, Bhubaneshwar, has developed. Called AdFalciVax, it is a recombinant vaccine, meaning parts of the genes that encode for targets are inserted into a cell, the target proteins are expressed, and then used to trigger an immune response. Malaria is a parasitic infection transmitted by mosquitoes. While the current vaccine protects against the most common one that causes infection in humans called plasmodium falciparum, there are at least four other parasites from the same family known to cause infection in humans. P. vivax is the other one that commonly causes malaria infections, especially in India. The others — p malariae, p ovale, and p knowlesi — cause fewer infections. While the pre-clinical studies have already shown positive indications, the company that collaborates with the ICMR will be responsible for further development, human clinical trials, and scale-up for commercial production. The vaccine contains the genetic material of two targets — one for a major protein called CSP found on the surface of the malaria parasite and another for a combination of parts of two proteins that affect the pathogen's lifecycle. 'There are some key differences in the ICMR vaccine as compared to the other two currently in the market. One, this vaccine used the DNA for the whole CSP protein instead of just a few parts, meaning it is likely to produce a stronger immune response. Two, the other target that is used prevents the development of the p. falciparum in the mosquito's midgut during its lifecycle. What this essentially means is that it prevents the infection not only in the vaccinated person, but stops the further spread of the disease by disrupting the lifecycle of the pathogen even when it has already been picked up by a mosquito from an infected person for further transmission,' said Dr Subhash Singh, project manager for development of the vaccine. Senior scientist Dr Susheel Singh and director Dr Sanghamitra Pati were part of the development process. The pre-clinical validation was done in collaboration with ICMR-National Institute of Medical Research and the National Institute of Immunology. Anonna Dutt is a Principal Correspondent who writes primarily on health at the Indian Express. She reports on myriad topics ranging from the growing burden of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension to the problems with pervasive infectious conditions. She reported on the government's management of the Covid-19 pandemic and closely followed the vaccination programme. Her stories have resulted in the city government investing in high-end tests for the poor and acknowledging errors in their official reports. Dutt also takes a keen interest in the country's space programme and has written on key missions like Chandrayaan 2 and 3, Aditya L1, and Gaganyaan. She was among the first batch of eleven media fellows with RBM Partnership to End Malaria. She was also selected to participate in the short-term programme on early childhood reporting at Columbia University's Dart Centre. Dutt has a Bachelor's Degree from the Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune and a PG Diploma from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. She started her reporting career with the Hindustan Times. When not at work, she tries to appease the Duolingo owl with her French skills and sometimes takes to the dance floor. ... Read More
Hans India
12 hours ago
- Hans India
India developing indigenous multi-stage Malaria vaccine 'AdFalciVax'
New Delhi: India has taken a major step forward in the fight against malaria with the development of a new indigenous vaccine candidate called AdFalciVax. This vaccine is being developed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), through its institutes RMRC Bhubaneswar and the National Institute of Malaria Research (NIMR), in partnership with the Department of Biotechnology's National Institute of Immunology (DBT-NII). AdFalciVax is a unique malaria vaccine that targets two key stages of Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite responsible for the deadliest form of malaria. Most existing vaccines only focus on one stage of the parasite's life cycle, but AdFalciVax is designed to provide stronger and longer-lasting protection by targeting both the human infection stage and the stage responsible for transmission through mosquitoes. In early lab testing, the vaccine has shown excellent results. Scientists believe that it could offer several benefits over current vaccines like RTS, S/AS01 and R21/Matrix-M. These include broader protection, reduced chances of the parasite escaping the immune response, and improved long-term immunity. The vaccine also remains stable for over nine months at room temperature, making it easier to store and transport, especially in tropical regions. Additionally, it uses cost-effective ingredients like alum, which is commonly used as an adjuvant in vaccines. The vaccine is currently in the preclinical stage. If everything goes as planned, it could take around seven years for the vaccine to be ready for public use. The development timeline includes manufacturing under strict safety standards, clinical trials, and regulatory approvals. One of the key innovations of AdFalciVax is that it is made using 'Lactococcus lactis', a safe and well-known bacteria used in vaccine development. Its design makes it capable of protecting individuals from getting sick while also reducing the spread of malaria within communities. The ICMR plans to offer the vaccine technology to other organisations and manufacturers under non-exclusive agreements. This means multiple companies can work on producing the vaccine, helping it reach more people faster once approved. AdFalciVax is being developed entirely in India, supporting the government's 'Make in India' initiative.
Economic Times
17 hours ago
- Economic Times
Development of indigenous multi-stage Malaria vaccine 'AdFalciVax' is underway
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), through its Regional Medical Research Centre, Bhubaneswar (RMRCBB) and National Institute of Malaria Research (NIMR), in partnership with the Department of Biotechnology-National Institute of Immunology (DBT-NII), is currently developing a novel recombinant chimeric malaria vaccine candidate, named AdFalciVax. ADVERTISEMENT AdFalciVax is the first indigenous recombinant chimeric malaria vaccine specifically designed to target two critical stages of Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite responsible for the most lethal form of malaria. The vaccine aims to protect against human infection while also reducing vector-borne community transmission of the parasite. According to the release, the vaccine has demonstrated excellent efficacy in the preclinical stage of development. Preclinical data suggest that AdFalciVax may have advantages over existing single-stage vaccines, including broader protection by targeting two vulnerable parasite stages, lower risk of immune evasion, potential for better long-term immunity, and extended thermal stability with functionality maintained for over nine months at room is a recombinant multistage vaccine produced in Lactococcus lactis, designed to protect both individual humans and reduce the community transmission represents one of the most advanced malaria vaccine candidates globally, with a rational design targeting two key stages of the parasite. This vaccine consists of a stable and functional recombinant chimaera between antigenic components that promises dual protection. ADVERTISEMENT ICMR intends to license the technology for AdFalciVax to eligible organisations and manufacturers for further development, manufacture, and commercialisation under non-exclusive agreements. This approach aims to enable wider outreach and maximise public health benefits. All collaborations will adhere to ICMR's Intellectual Property Policy. ADVERTISEMENT As an indigenously developed vaccine candidate that fulfils the Make in India mandate, AdFalciVax holds the potential to contribute substantially to malaria eradication by preventing infection and minimising community information is provided for awareness purposes only. The vaccine candidate is in its early research and development phases and is not yet available for any clinical use or commercialisation. ADVERTISEMENT (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
