A vaccine for one of the world’s biggest killers – malaria – has
become a step closer after researchers in the U.S. made a breakthrough
in a small early-stage clinical trial.
The new malaria vaccine is being tentatively named ‘PfSPZ’ and is
unique as it contains sporozoites (SPZ) – a life cycle stage of live but
weakened malaria Plasmodium falciparum parasites.
Details of the Phase-1 clinical trial were published yesterday in the journal Science.
Developers of the vaccine say that the weakened, early stage parasites
can actually help a person build up an immunity following an injection
of a high enough dosage into the bloodstream.
Lead author Dr Robert Seder, from the Vaccine Research Center at the
National Institutes of Health, in Maryland, said: “We were excited and
thrilled by the result, but it is important that we repeat it, extend it
and do it in larger numbers.”
It has been common knowledge amongst health experts for several
decades that exposure to mosquitoes treated with radiation is highly
effective as a malaria prevention method.
Unfortunately, evidence shows that roughly 1,000 mosquito bites are
required over a time period to gradually develop a sufficient level of
immunity. Therefore, it is simply an unfeasible way to protect people.
Dr Seder added: “Based on the history, we knew dose was important
because you needed 1,000 mosquito bites to get protection – this
validates that. It allows us in future studies to increase the dose and
alter the schedule of the vaccine to further optimise it. The next
critical questions will be whether the vaccine is durable over a long
period of time and can the vaccine protect against other strains of
malaria.”
The new vaccine is being developed by a biotech company called
Sanaria, based in Maryland, U.S., who irradiated lab-grown mosquitoes
before extracting the malaria-causing parasite Plasmodium falciparum.
Their Phase-1 clinical trial of PfSPZ involved 57 volunteers aged 18
to 45 who had no previous history of the malaria disease. The
researchers administered varying strengths of PfSPZ to 40 of the
participants and the other 17 received no vaccine whatsoever.
After a week’s analysis, no severe side effects were noted in any of
the participants in the study. However, to determine how effective the
malaria vaccine actually was, each person – including those who didn’t
receive the vaccine – was exposed to bites from five malaria infected
mosquitoes.
A week later everybody was analysed for infection and those not given
the vaccine received treatment for malaria. It was found that those
given high doses were significantly less likely to contract malaria in
comparison to the others in the study.
Just three of the 15 participants who received higher doses actually
became infected. However, 16 of 17 participants in the lower dosage
group became infected and 11 of the 12 participants who were not
vaccinated then became infected.
The study, conducted between October 2011 and October 2012, was
hugely promising due to the fact none of the participants experienced
any side effects from the vaccine. However, the researchers admit it
could be years before the vaccine is available in communities where it
is needed.
Dr William Schaffner, head of the preventive medicine department at
Vanderbilt University’s medical school, said although it was a
‘scientific advance’, it could be as long as a 10 year wait before the
malaria vaccine is scientifically proved, given approval, and made
available for distribution.
He told CCN: “This is not a vaccine that’s ready for travellers to
the developing world anytime soon. However, from the point of view of
science dealing with one of the big-three infectious causes of death
around the world, it’s a notable advance. And everybody will be holding
their breath, watching to see whether this next trial works and how well
it works.”
Of course, if you are travelling abroad in the next 10 years and need
malaria prevention and treatment, there are other medications available
right now. These include Doxycycline, Malarone, Paludrine, and Jungle Formula Maximum Pump Spray. In addition, don’t forget to check the NHS Fit For Travel website where you will find the recommended malaria medication for your destination.
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