NEWS

• The Union Government has approved licences for five Indian firms to manufacture and commercialise the country’s first indigenous multi-stage malaria vaccine.
• The vaccine, AdFalciVax, was developed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in collaboration with research institutes.

HIGHLIGHTS

About the Vaccine

• Targets Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest malaria parasite.
• Acts before the parasite enters the bloodstream, thereby preventing infection and transmission.
• Designed as an affordable, stable, and scalable solution.
• Shelf life: Effective for over nine months at room temperature, easing storage and distribution in remote areas.

Development Process

• Pre-clinical validation was conducted by:
  • ICMR-National Institute of Malaria Research (NIMR)
  • National Institute of Immunology (NII), New Delhi (under Department of Biotechnology).
• Technology transfer was made possible through an expression of interest (EoI) process inviting qualified companies.

Public Health Significance

• Malaria in India:
  • Still a major public health challenge.
  • India accounts for 1.4% of global malaria cases.
  • Contributes 66% of cases in the WHO Southeast Asia region.
• The indigenous vaccine is expected to reduce infection rates and curb community transmission, advancing India’s malaria elimination goals.