Malaria vaccine is safe, effective

September / October 2013 | Volume 12, Issue 5

A malaria vaccine candidate has passed a key milestone in an NIH-sponsored clinical trial, showing it is safe and, at high enough doses, can protect adults against disease.

The small-scale trial, held at NIH's Clinical Center and led by NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), tested the PfSPZ Vaccine developed by Sanaria Inc. based on live but weakened versions of the Plasmodium falciparum parasite. All participants receiving the maximum vaccine coverage were protected, but infection arose among participants with lesser dosages.

Everyone infected was promptly treated and cured. Results were published online in Science. Researchers are planning additional studies.

More Information

• Read the full August 8, 2013 NIAID news release, Investigational Malaria Vaccine Found Safe and Protective: NIH Vaccine Researchers Publish Results of Early-Stage Clinical Trial.
• Access Fogarty and NIH malaria information and resources.

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