Serum Institute Ships First Set of Malaria Vaccine to Africa

The Serum Institute of India has shipped its first batch of R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccines to Africa, marking a major milestone in the global fight against malaria. This collaboration with Oxford University and Novavax aims to deliver affordable and effective vaccines to malaria-endemic regions, potentially saving hundreds of thousands of lives annually.

Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) has announced the shipment of its first batch of R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccines to Africa. This significant step marks a major milestone in the fight against malaria, particularly in malaria-endemic regions.

The initial shipment is destined for the Central African Republic (CAR), with subsequent deliveries planned for South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The CAR region will receive a total of 1,63,800 doses, of which 43,200 doses are being dispatched today from SII’s facility.

The R21/Matrix-M vaccine was developed through a collaboration between the Jenner Institute at Oxford University, SII, and Novavax. It leverages Novavax’s saponin-based adjuvant technology and received support from several prestigious organizations, including the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP), the Wellcome Trust, and the European Investment Bank (EIB).

To date, SII has manufactured 25 million doses of the vaccine, with plans to scale up to 100 million doses annually. This effort aims to address the substantial malaria burden, particularly in the WHO Africa region, which accounted for 94% of global malaria cases and 95% of malaria deaths in 2022.

The vaccine has received WHO recommendation for use in children, demonstrating high efficacy in its Phase 3 trials. John C. Jacobs, President and CEO of Novavax, emphasized the importance of this vaccine in mitigating the devastating health and economic impacts of malaria, which claims the lives of 1,300 children daily.

Eric Garcetti, US Ambassador to India, highlighted the innovative collaboration between the US and India, which has led to the development of quality, affordable vaccines. Umesh Shaligram, executive director of R&D at SII, praised the dedicated workforce at SII and the partnership with Novavax and Oxford University. This collaboration underscores the importance of innovation, affordability, and accessibility in tackling global health challenges.

The shipment of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine is a testament to the power of global collaboration and a significant step towards a world free from the burden of malaria. The vaccine’s deployment is expected to save hundreds of thousands of lives annually, making a profound impact on global health.