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WHO to launch GSK's malaria vaccine in Africa

May 5, 2017 1:39 AM UTC

Beginning in 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) (Geneva, Switzerland) will make Mosquirix (RTS,S) from GlaxoSmithKline plc (LSE:GSK; NYSE:GSK) available in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi under a pilot malaria vaccine program. WHO said the pilot program will assess whether the malaria vaccine's protective effect in children ages five to 17 shown in Phase III testing can be replicated in real life. WHO will assess the feasibility of delivering the required four doses of Mosquirix, as well as its role in reducing childhood deaths and safety in routine use.

WHO is working with the three countries to facilitate regulatory authorization of the vaccine for use in the pilot program. Global Alliance for Vaccine Immunization (GAVI), Vaccine Alliance, Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and UNITAID will provide $49.2 million for the first stage of the program (2017-2020). WHO and GSK will provide in-kind contributions...