After BioNTech battles the Covid-19 pandemic with its mRNA vaccine, BioNTech plans to use the same technology to develop a first-of-its-kind vaccine against malaria, with the goal of starting clinical trials in late 2022.
BioNTech’s malaria project is part of the “eradicateMalaria” initiative led by the kENUP Foundation to accelerate the eradication of the mosquito-borne disease. The efforts are supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
“The response to the pandemic has shown that science and innovation can change people’s lives if all key stakeholders work towards a common goal,” said Prof. Dr. Ugur Sahin, CEO and Co-Founder of BioNTech.
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HOW THE MALARIA VACCINE IS DEVELOPED
Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines, like the Covid-19 vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, cause the human body to make a protein that is part of the pathogen and trigger an immune response. They are also faster to develop than traditional vaccines and are relatively easy to customize.
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BioNTech, based in Germany, aims to develop a safe and highly effective mRNA vaccine with long-term protective immunity to prevent malaria and disease-related mortality. Several vaccine candidates with known malaria targets such as circumsporozoite protein (CSP) as well as new antigens discovered in the preclinical research phase will be evaluated. The most promising mRNA vaccine candidates will be selected for clinical development.
“Together with our partners, we will do everything possible to develop a safe and effective malaria vaccine based on mRNA that prevents the disease, reduces mortality and ensures a sustainable solution for the African continent and other regions affected by this disease” , added Prof. Dr. Ugur Sahin.
Scientists around the world have worked for decades developing a vaccine against malaria, which infects millions of people each year and kills more than 400,000 people – most of them babies and toddlers in the poorest parts of Africa.
EXPLORING VACCINE MANUFACTURING IN AFRICA
BioNTech is also studying vaccine production in Africa to implement sustainable solutions for vaccine supply on the continent.
The pharmaceutical giant is looking into ways to build state-of-the-art mRNA production facilities, either with partners or alone. Once approved, facilities are expected to produce a variety of mRNA-based vaccines to ensure sustainable supply operations.
This would include the joint establishment of its African production capacities with the technology transfer centers being set up by the WHO in accordance with the African production strategy drawn up by the Africa CDC. This strategy aims to expand the capacity of low and middle income countries to continuously manufacture advanced vaccines and increase production to improve global access.
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