The University of Oxford develops a vaccine for malaria with an efficiency of 77% and final results within a year

Researchers at the University of Oxford have developed the most effective malaria vaccine in the world, and it became the first to achieve the effectiveness target set by the World Health Organization at 75%. According to a report by the British newspaper "Daily Mail", Oxford researchers confirmed the results of the second phase trial of the candidate malaria vaccine R21 / Matrix -M, which showed 77% efficacy over 12 months of follow-up.

The researchers hope that the vaccine will be approved for use within the next two years, based on the speed and lessons learned through the rapid development of Corona vaccines.

"The vaccine has the potential to achieve great public health if the license is obtained," said Adrian Hill, director of the Jenner Institute and professor of vaccinology at the University of Oxford who led the research for the Oxford / AstraZeneca vaccine for Coronavirus as co-author of the research paper on the malaria vaccine.

Asked how confident he was that the efficacy could be replicated in the next phase of the trial, Professor Hill said the researchers were "very confident" and added: "We and others found that if you got vaccinated just before the malaria season, you might get a 10% improvement or improvement." Something like that at the event This hasn't been published yet but will be released fairly soon from another group. "

When asked whether this is the most effective malaria vaccine in the world, Professor Hill said: “Yes, because no other vaccine has a primary endpoint with an efficacy of more than 75% so we are excited about that but as you know, there is a final phase of testing that must pass. Out.

Professor Hill announced that the researchers hope to report the results of the final phase of the experiment next year.

What is malaria?

 

Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by the plasmodium parasites that are transmitted to people through the bites of mosquitoes, specifically female Anopheles mosquitoes, there are five types of parasites that cause malaria in humans, two of which pose the greatest threat worldwide.

Symptoms of malaria

Malaria is an acute febrile disease that is generally defined as a fever that resolves on its own within three weeks. In the case of malaria, the fever is accompanied by a headache and chills. Symptoms may be mild at first and difficult to recognize. However, if malaria is not treated within 24 hours, it may be possible. Falciparum malaria becomes severe and often results in death.

Children with severe malaria often develop one or more of the following symptoms: severe anemia, shortness of breath associated with metabolic acidosis, or cerebral malaria according to the World Health Organization.