the marketing of the first ever anti-malaria vaccine, saying it will
file for approval with regulatory bodies next year.
Malaria, a predominant parasite noticed mostly in Africa and helped
the relatively conducive climate for breeding mosquitoes – carriers of
the parasite – is said to have caused the deaths of over 660,000 and
1.2 million people, particularly infants, across the black continent,
a WHO report revealed.
However, the GSK formulated vaccine, named RTS,S, is said to have
reduced the reduced the amount of cases amongst young children by 50
percent, following the conclusion of an 18-month clinical trial.
In a bid to expand it the breakthrough vaccine to accommodate a larger
group as well as guarantee a sustained availability for the general
public, the British pharmaceutical giant is set to submit an
application for a marketing license with the European Medicine
Association (EMA).
"Based on these data, GSK now intends to submit, in 2014, a regulatory
application to the European Medicines Agency (EMA)," GSK said in a
statement.
GlaxoSmithKline has been developing the vaccine for three decades, and
now has the backing of the UN's Swiss-based WHO, saying it will
recommend the use of RTS,S for use as from 2015, if it gets approval.
GSK embarked on this project as a non-profit initiative, with most of
its funding coming the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation – a major
contributor to malaria eradication strives in Africa.
