|
The search for the world’s first malaria vaccine
received a boost with the release of early results from a major clinical
trial showing it cut risk by about half in African children.
The vaccine known as RTS,S is made by the British pharmaceutical giant
GlaxoSmithKline’s lab in Belgium, and is the first of its kind to
attempt to block a parasite, rather than bacteria or viruses.
Experts hailed the phase III trial under way at 11 sites in sub-Saharan
Africa as a promising step toward eradicating the ancient mosquito-borne
disease that kills almost 800,000 people yearly, most of them children.
|
|
|
|
Children aged five to 17 months who received three doses of the vaccine
saw a 56 percent lower risk of developing clinical malaria, which causes
high fever and chills, according to the study.
When it came to severe malaria — the stage of the illness that can be
fatal and reaches the blood, brain or kidneys — those who received the
vaccine showed a 47 percent lower risk.
The World Health Organization says malaria claimed 781,000 lives in
2009. About 90 percent of malaria deaths each year occur in Africa and
92 percent of those are children less than five years old.
|
|
|
|
More than 15,000 children in seven African countries are enrolled in the
trial, which is set to continue for two more years, and covers areas
with other interventions in place against malaria, such as bed nets and
spraying.
|