Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Jul 21: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has called upon domestic vaccine manufacturers to collaborate in launching and commercially producing a new indigenous malaria vaccine developed by its Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC) in Bhubaneshwar.

Named AdFalciVax, the vaccine is a recombinant type that uses targeted gene sequences to trigger a protective immune response. It has shown promising results in pre-clinical studies and is aimed at combating Plasmodium falciparum, the most virulent malaria-causing parasite in humans.

The ICMR stated that the partnering company would be responsible for advancing the vaccine through human clinical trials and scaling it up for commercial production.

“This vaccine has two genetic targets — one for the CSP protein found on the parasite’s surface and another combining two proteins that interfere with the parasite’s lifecycle,” explained Dr Subhash Singh, project manager of the vaccine’s development.

Dr Singh noted two key innovations in AdFalciVax compared to the two malaria vaccines currently available in the market. “First, it uses the full DNA of the CSP protein rather than fragments, potentially leading to a stronger immune response. Second, it disrupts the parasite’s development in the mosquito’s midgut, thereby preventing transmission even from infected individuals,” he said.

Apart from P falciparum, malaria in India is also commonly caused by P vivax, while P malariae, P ovale, and P knowlesi are less frequent.

The vaccine's pre-clinical validation was conducted in partnership with ICMR’s National Institute of Medical Research and the National Institute of Immunology. Senior scientist Dr Susheel Singh and RMRC director Dr Sanghamitra Pati played vital roles in its development.