Collaborating for a Future Free from the Grip of Malaria

Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire: First baby receiving the new R21/Matrix-M™ malaria vaccine, co-developed by the University of Oxford and Serum Institute of India. Photographer Credit: Miléquêm Diarassouba

Malaria is one of the oldest and deadliest diseases in history.1 It is preventable and treatable, yet it is so common and so deadly that a child under five years of age dies from malaria nearly every minute of every day.2 In fact, according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2023 World malaria report, there were an estimated 249 million cases and 608,000 deaths in 2022 alone.

Demand for the RTS,S vaccine far exceeds supply, so this second vaccine is a vital additional tool to protect more children faster, and to bring us closer to our vision of a malaria-free future.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General

Today, less than two decades after the first Malaria Vaccine Technology Roadmap set a vision for an effective malaria vaccine for children in sub-Saharan Africa, we celebrate the availability of two safe and effective vaccines that offer the potential to add significant momentum in the centuries-long fight against malaria and this pressing public health challenge.3,5,6

The R21/Matrix-M™ malaria vaccine is one of the available vaccines.6 The R21 antigen was developed by the University of Oxford and includes Novavax’s Matrix-M™ adjuvant, which enhances the immune system response, making it broader and more durable.7 The vaccine will be manufactured and distributed at large scale by Serum Institute of India. With the first R21/Matrix-M doses just administered in July 2024 in Cote d’Ivoire, protecting children as young as five months, the availability of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine is expected to significantly increase vaccine supply, making broad-scale deployment across Africa possible.3,6 Cote d’Ivoire, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Sudan and Uganda have received or are preparing to receive doses, with administration expected in the coming months.

Countless colleagues, healthcare providers and others have dedicated their careers to advancing these vaccines with the potential to transform the trajectory of a disease that places immeasurable health and economic burdens on society.9 We deeply appreciate the collaboration, expertise and resources required to address such complex health issues in an interconnected world. Only by working together can we combat existing global public health challenges like malaria while also preparing for emerging threats. For Novavax, this means ongoing participation in meaningful partnerships with leading research institutions, government agencies, foundations and industry.

Despite this exciting progress, global efforts to control and eliminate malaria continue to face new obstacles. From humanitarian crises to resource limitations, to the looming effects of climate change that are likely to expand malaria’s reach, our work must continue. With the powerful combination of a collaborative spirit, innovative vaccines and advanced adjuvants, we are collectively working toward a future free from the grip of malaria – and poised for what’s next.