A new Japanese malaria vaccine cuts infections ‘by 72%’
A TEAM of Japanese researchers say they have developed a vaccine that cuts the risk of malaria developing in humans by more than two-thirds.
The disease, which is carried by parasite-bearing mosquitoes, kills around 650,000 people each year – mostly African children under five – according to the United Nation’s World Health Organisation (WHO).
While there are a number of preventative medicines already in use, scientists say drug resistance is growing.
Researchers from Osaka University have developed a dry powder vaccine called BK-SE36, from a genetically-modified protein found inside the parasite, which they mixed with aluminium hydroxyl gel.
”The vaccine’s effect is greater than those hitherto reported of any other antimalaria vaccines,” a statement issued last week said, adding that BK-SE36 is expected to reduce markedly the number of deaths caused by the mosquito-borne disease.
The vaccine has already undergone trials on adults in Japan and was also tested in a malaria-endemic area in northern Uganda between 2010 and 2011. Neither study found any safety problems.
A follow-up study of people in Uganda, aged between six and 20, found that the vaccine lowered the number of people infected by malaria by 72%.
The findings were published Tuesday on the online US science journal PLOS One, according to the statement.
BK-SE36 far outperformed the 31% decline achieved by another new vaccine developed by a British company, the statement said.
Professor Toshihiro Horii, who led the study, told Jiji Press he wants to put BK-SE36 to practical use “in five years after conducting a clinical trial on infants between zero and five, who account for the bulk of malaria deaths”.
The study came as a non-profit group said on Friday that it was launching a project to comb the catalogues of some of Japan’s biggest drug companies in the hunt for treatments for diseases that kill thousands of people every year.
The Latest Bing News on:
Malaria
- We must heed the warning buzz on malariaon July 31, 2022 at 5:30 pm
Every year malaria leads to India suffering severe economic hardship, and losses in wages and production, as it accounts for 83 per cent of malaria cases and 82 per cent deaths in South-East Asia ...
- World Malaria Day: Organisation Urges Countries to Act During ‘Window of Opportunity’ to Save Liveson July 31, 2022 at 5:01 pm
Ahead of World Malaria Day billed for April 25, the global platform for coordinated action against malaria, the RBM Partnership to End Malaria, is calling on countries to act now to save almost ...
- Malaria vaccine in clinical trials could reduce deaths by 75 percenton July 31, 2022 at 10:03 am
Malaria is caused by parasites from the genus Plasmodium. The single-celled organisms are not viruses or bacteria. There’s currently one vaccine approved by the WHO for use against malaria ...
- Study uncovers the crucial roles of kinesins during the malaria parasite life cycleon July 28, 2022 at 9:58 pm
Scientists at the University of Nottingham have made a major breakthrough in understanding how malaria parasites divide and transmit the disease, which could be a major step forwards in helping to ...
- How molecular motor proteins are involved in malaria transmissionon July 28, 2022 at 12:54 pm
Scientists have made a major breakthrough in understanding how malaria parasites divide and transmit the disease, which could be a major step forwards in helping to prevent one of the biggest killer ...
- Malaria vaccine in clinical trials could reduce deaths by 75 percenton July 27, 2022 at 9:20 am
Story at a glance Malaria is caused by parasites from the genus Plasmodium. The single-celled organisms are not viruses or bacteria. There’s currently one vaccine approved by the WHO for use against ...
- Extreme Heat & Climate Change Increase Risk of Malaria, other Health Threatson July 26, 2022 at 11:48 am
With record-breaking heat waves dominating summer forecasts worldwide, Malaria No More is sounding the alarm on increasing global health risks resulting from climate change, particularly a global rise ...
- New vaccines and global partnerships can end malaria as we know iton July 26, 2022 at 10:00 am
Before vaccines can meaningfully start helping to defeat this terrible disease, significant challenges must still be overcome.
- Targeting a parasite's DNA could be more effective way to treat malariaon July 25, 2022 at 4:00 am
Targeting a parasite's DNA could be a more effective way to combat malaria, new research from the University of Sheffield has revealed.
- WHO moves to roll out first malaria vaccine in Africaon July 21, 2022 at 4:34 am
As the World Health Organization announces the next step in its rollout of the world’s first authorized malaria vaccine in three African countries, concerns about its value have come from an unlikely ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Malaria
The Latest Bing News on:
Malaria vaccine
- Gavi opens applications for malaria vaccine rollout supporton July 28, 2022 at 1:05 am
The opening of the application window follows the WHO’s recommendation for wider routine use of the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine in October 2021 and a subsequent decision by the Gavi Board in December ...
- Malaria vaccine in clinical trials could reduce deaths by 75 percenton July 27, 2022 at 9:20 am
Story at a glance Malaria is caused by parasites from the genus Plasmodium. The single-celled organisms are not viruses or bacteria. There’s currently one vaccine approved by the WHO for use against ...
- Malaria Vaccines Market Share, Upcoming Trends, Size, Key Segments, Growth Status and Forecast 2031on July 27, 2022 at 2:52 am
Kenneth Research, in its repository of market research reports, has recently added a report titled Malaria Vaccines ...
- New vaccines and global partnerships can end malaria as we know iton July 26, 2022 at 10:00 am
Before vaccines can meaningfully start helping to defeat this terrible disease, significant challenges must still be overcome.
- Nigeria’s malaria vaccine supply threatened as financier withdrawson July 21, 2022 at 8:01 pm
Nigeria’s plan to kick off malaria vaccination by the first quarter of 2023 could fail as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the biggest financier of ...
- WHO moves to roll out first malaria vaccine in Africaon July 21, 2022 at 3:17 am
As the World Health Organization announces the next step in its rollout of the world’s first authorized malaria vaccine in three African countries, concerns about its value have come from an unlikely ...
- Vaccine group invites African states to apply for malaria shot supporton July 20, 2022 at 10:40 am
Nine months after the world's first malaria vaccine was recommended for use, international vaccine alliance Gavi invited countries to apply for financial support to roll out the jab, particularly ...
- New genomic research shows why testing malaria vaccines in the clinic is as rigorous as natural exposure in the fieldon July 19, 2022 at 12:05 pm
Scientists report a new way to test vaccines that may be as rigorous and stringent as exposure to field strains of malaria. Malaria is the deadliest mosquito-borne parasitic infection of humans.
- New genomic research shows why testing malaria vaccines in the clinic is as rigorous as natural exposure in the fieldon July 19, 2022 at 9:30 am
approved the world's first malaria vaccine. That vaccine reduces the incidence of malaria infections in young children aged 5-17 months by only 30 percent, meaning that it remains critical to ...
- Shortage of malaria vaccines for kids who need it moston July 17, 2022 at 6:00 pm
After decades of work, the World Health Organization (WHO) endorsed the first-ever malaria vaccine last year – a historic milestone that promised to drive back a disease that kills a child every ...