The First Malaria Vaccine Could Be Available In A Year | Co.Exist | ideas + impact
1After 31 years of research, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has filed for regulatory approval for the first-ever malaria vaccine–which also happens to be the first vaccine developed against a parasite. The clinical trial results of the vaccine, called RTS,S, have been encouraging.
Malaria is an insidious and preventable disease, killing almost one child per minute. In high-risk areas, there’s more than one case per 1,000 people. Depending on who you talk to, insecticide-treated bednets prevent anywhere between 5% to 50% of cases, and efficacy is largely dependent on how consistently people use them. A vaccine–which requires no effort in patients beyond getting the initial shot–used in combination with bednets could prevent even more cases of the disease…
via The First Malaria Vaccine Could Be Available In A Year | Co.Exist | ideas + impact.
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It does not appear that GSK will be able to recoup the costs of the 31 years of research on this front with this initial vaccine.
The article mentions that “GSK is selling it with a 5% markup in cost, and proceeds will go towards future research. The company is already working on second-generation vaccines, in addition to an oral medicine that cures a type of malaria found in Asia and Latin America with just one dose.” Perhaps they can make up for it with these second generation medicines.