Oxford UK: Scientists at the University of Oxford have developed a new malaria vaccine that has shown to be 100% effective in preventing the disease in mice. The vaccine is still in the early stages of development, but it has the potential to be a major breakthrough in the fight against malaria, which kills over 400,000 people each year.
The vaccine works by targeting a specific protein on the surface of the malaria parasite. When the vaccine is administered, the body's immune system produces antibodies that can recognize and destroy the parasite.
The Oxford team is now planning to begin clinical trials of the vaccine in humans. If the trials are successful, the vaccine could be widely available within a few years.
The R21/Matrix-MTM malaria vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and the Serum Institute of India, leveraging Novavax's adjuvant technology, has been recommended for use by the World Health Organization (WHO) after meeting required safety, quality and effectiveness standards.
