24th July 2025 (15 Topics)
1
Jul
2
Jul
3
Jul
4
Jul
5
Jul
7
Jul
8
Jul
9
Jul
10
Jul
11
Jul
12
Jul
14
Jul
15
Jul
16
Jul
17
Jul
18
Jul
19
Jul
21
Jul
22
Jul
23
Jul
24
Jul
25
Jul
26
Jul
28
Jul
ICMR’s Breakthrough in Malaria Vaccine Development
Context
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has announced a promising candidate malaria vaccine named ‘AdVacFluVac’, aimed particularly at the Plasmodium falciparum parasite, marking a significant advancement in India’s public health and immunisation efforts.
Global and National Burden of Malaria:
- Malaria remains a significant public health challenge, with ~400,000 global deaths annually, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
- In India:
- Malaria cases declined from 2.93 million (1995) to 0.18 million (2022).
- Deaths reduced from 1,151 (1995) to 83 (2022), as per National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme.
About AdVacFluVac:
- Developed by ICMR, targeting Plasmodium falciparum, responsible for the most severe form of malaria.
- Developed in collaboration with private partners.
- Uses circumsporozoite protein (CSP), a surface protein expressed by the parasite during infection.
Mechanism of Action:
- Mimics the sporozoite stage of the malaria parasite to generate an immune response.
- Produces high titres of neutralising antibodies that block parasite development inside liver cells.
- Works similarly to RTS,S and R21 vaccines but aims to improve protection and reduce logistical challenges.
Comparative Advantage of AdVacFluVac:
- Requires fewer doses than RTS,S (which needs four doses).
- Shown to be safe and immunogenic in pre-clinical studies.
- May offer better thermal stability, a major factor for distribution in tropical regions.
- Designed to be produced domestically at scale in India.
Global Vaccine Landscape:
- WHO-approved vaccines:
- RTS,S/AS01 (Mosquirix) – First malaria vaccine approved for pilot use.
- R21/Matrix-M – Recently approved with improved efficacy.
- India’s AdVacFluVac adds to this arsenal with indigenous technology and manufacturing capability.
More Articles
Courses
Study
Notes
Home
Resources
More
