The German pharmaceutical company BioNTech wants to develop an mRNA vaccine against malaria in the coming years. The company announced Monday that it plans to start a clinical trial by the end of 2022. An mRNA vaccine contains the blueprint of part of the pathogen so that the body can build a protection.
–
BioNTech claims to be working on a safe and highly effective mRNA vaccine that provides long-lasting immunity against malaria. The company is also investigating whether production facilities could be set up in Africa to manufacture those vaccines.
The project is supported by the European Commission, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other organisations. “Science, collaboration and technology transfer are critical in this project,” said Ugur Sahin, CEO of BioNTech.
Malaria is one of the most dangerous infectious diseases in the world. In 2019, the WHO registered 229 million cases of illness and more than 400,000 deaths. In most cases, these are children younger than five years old.
Scientists have been looking for a reliable vaccine for decades, but no preparation has been approved so far. “MRNA technology could be a turning point,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
–
