Developing an effective
malaria vaccine has been the goal of the scientific community for many years. A
malaria vaccine, added to existing tools and strategies, would further prevent
infection and decrease the unacceptable
malaria morbidity and mortality burden. Great progress has been made over the last decade and a number of
vaccine candidates are in the clinical phases of development. The
RTS,S malaria vaccine candidate, based on a recombinant P. falciparum
protein, is the most advanced of such candidates, currently undergoing a large phase III trial. RTS,S has consistently shown around 50% efficacy protecting against the first clinical episode of
malaria, in some cases extending up to 4 years. It is hoped that RTS,S will eventually become the first licensed
malaria vaccine. This first
vaccine against a human parasite is a groundbreaking achievement, but improved
malaria vaccines conferring higher protection will be needed if the aspiration of
malaria eradication is to be achieved.