Nairobi | Thursday
RESEARCHERS in Kenya Thursday announced the launch of clinical tests of a trial vaccine for malaria, one of Africa’s most deadly diseases.
“The trial, launched this month in adult volunteers in western Kenya, ultimately will test whether the vaccine can help children fight the infection before it causes illness,” said a statement by the US-based Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI).
The vaccine, which has already been tested for safety on 60 US civilian and military volunteers, was developed by America’s Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals.
The trial vaccine focuses on the stage of infection when the malaria parasite rapidly reproduces and attacks the body’s red blood cells, causing the actual illness.
The vaccine’s key component is merozoite surface protein-1 antigen (MSP-1).
Antigens are parts of the malaria parasite that are capable of generating an immune response.
The US Agency for International Development (USAid) supported the development, production and early testing of the vaccine.
MVI is providing the technical support and a 2.8 million dollar funding for the Kenya trial project, which is also benefiting from the scientific and clinical expertise of the Kenya Medical Research Institute.
Ninety percent of the estimated 2.7 million deaths caused by malaria around the world annually occur in Africa and the majority of them are children under the age of five.
Thursday has been designated Malaria Day in Africa. – AFP