Malaria vaccines: the 60-year journey of hope and final success—lessons learned and future prospects

Abstract

Background The world has made great strides towards beating malaria, although about half of the world population is still exposed to the risk of contracting malaria. Developing an effective malaria vaccine was a huge challenge for medical science. In 2021 the World Health Organization (WHO) approved the first malaria vaccine, RTS,S/AS01 vaccine (Mosquirix™), for widespread use. Main abstract body This review highlights the history of development, and the different approaches and types of malaria vaccines, and the literature to date. It covers the developmental stages of RTS,S/AS01 and recommends steps for its deployment. The review explores other potential vaccine candidates and their status, and suggests options for their further development. It also recommends future roles for vaccines in eradicating malaria. Questions remain on how RTS,S vaccine will work in widespread use and how it can best be utilized to benefit vulnerable communities. Conclusion Malaria vaccines have been in development for almost 60 years. The RTS,S/AS01 vaccine has now been approved, but cannot be a stand-alone solution. Development should continue on promising candidates such as R21, PfSPZ and P. vivax vaccines. Multi-component vaccines may be a useful addition to other malaria control techniques in achieving eradication of malaria.

Microalgae‐made human vaccines and therapeutics: A decade of advances

“…Some strategies concentrate on the sporozoite and/or liver phases of the life cycle (pre-erythrocytic phases), while others focus on the asexual and the sexual erythrocytic as well as mosquito stages. [65]…”

Leveraging malaria vaccines and mRNA technology to tackle the global inequity in pharmaceutical research and production towards disease elimination

“…Indeed, even malaria vaccines have been in R&D for at least eight decades. Since at least the 1940s, researchers have been attempting to induce protective immunity to malaria parasites using, e.g., killed or inactivated sporozoites, before RTS,S and R21 (that target the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein and, to a lesser extent, the hepatitis B virus surface antigen) became the first and second approved human antiparasitic vaccines in 2021 and 2023, respectively [ 2 , 52 , 53 ]. Thus, substantive funding needs to be allocated continuously to HE institutions for research if game-changing solutions for public health challenges are to be observed on the continent.…”

Advancing Malaria Vaccination in Africa: Cameroon’s Pioneering Effort and the Path Forward

“…Timely advocacy for parents and communities embracing this vaccination is expedient to create awareness for integrating all 3 strategies, which could provide a more comprehensive approach, protecting children from malaria by up to 90% and emphasizing the need for a diversified strategy in combating the disease. 3 Comprehensive planning is recommended to ensure the malaria vaccine’s effective distribution in other African countries. This includes establishing a national immunization policy and recommendations, as well as smoothly incorporating the new vaccine into preexisting schedules for delivery with other vaccinations and health interventions.…”

“…Governments should invest in innovating diagnostics to increase sensitivity and specificity, improve data quality, and train practitioners to ensure effective malaria control and immunization. 2 , 3 …”