Christian Loucq, MD: "...the world may be just five years away from having a first malaria vaccine..."

A perspective from Christian Loucq, MD, director of the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative

We at the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI) are observing the first World Malaria Day with a sense of optimism. Malaria is finally receiving the attention it warrants. Programs devoted to expanding access to current interventions are beginning to have an impact. Research into new tools, such as vaccines, is moving forward. Indeed, the world may be just five years away from having a first malaria vaccine ready for use.

Why a vaccine? Because from small pox to yellow fever, vaccines have provided the world with our most efficient means of preventing disease and death.

At MVI, we invest in a diversity of vaccine candidates and partners that take different approaches to fighting the malaria parasite. By not putting all our eggs in one basket, we can better manage the risk of failure—and increase our chances of success.

This approach is working. The first-ever late-stage (Phase 3) trial of a malaria vaccine is scheduled to begin later this year, thanks to our partnership with GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals and a network of ten clinical trial sites in Africa. Other vaccine candidates are also moving forward.

Much more will have to be done, however, to achieve the goal of first controlling malaria and, ultimately, eradicating it. Expanding the use of existing strategies and developing new tools will require significant financial resources, sustained political will, and lots of new ideas.

This year, we observe the first World Malaria Day by citing the progress being made in the battle against the disease—and our progress toward having a safe and effective malaria vaccine. We look forward to a time when we mark the occasion by celebrating a world free of malaria.