Global efforts against malaria saw a flurry of developments in the past 48 hours, led by new science on vaccines, fresh trial plans in Asia, and program updates from Africa. Researchers also reported advances in antimalarial drugs that could complement vaccination campaigns.
On the science front, two separate announcements converged on how to stop the parasite at different stages of its life cycle. Medical Xpress reports that new immunology data explain why the WHO‑recommended R21/Matrix‑M vaccine protects so effectively at the earliest stage of infection: antibodies elicited by R21 closely mimic those produced after natural infection, targeting the sporozoite form transmitted by mosquito bites. The study, published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine and led by Texas Biomedical Research Institute in collaboration with the University of Oxford’s Jenner Institute, helps clarify how R21 blocks the parasite before it reaches the bloodstream, the point at which symptoms begin, and underscores the role of the Matrix‑M adjuvant in boosting that response, according to Medical Xpress.
A complementary strategy—blocking transmission inside the mosquito—is advancing as well. Drug Target Review reports that Australian scientists at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute have, for the first time, visualized a key malaria parasite fertilization complex using cryo‑electron microscopy, enabling the design of an mRNA vaccine candidate that induces antibodies to stop parasite reproduction in mosquitoes. According to Drug Target Review, this next‑generation approach aims to cut transmission by preventing the parasite from fertilizing and spreading within the vector, potentially breaking the human–mosquito cycle.
In Southeast Asia, Indonesia is preparing to test whether one vaccination regimen can protect against the two most widespread human malaria species. OUCRU (the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit) announced plans for a Phase 2 clinical trial in Keerom, Papua, that will co‑administer Oxford’s R21 for Plasmodium falciparum and the related Rv21 candidate for Plasmodium vivax. OUCRU notes this will be the first human trial of a dual‑species malaria vaccination strategy and, if successful, could be game‑changing for the Asia‑Pacific, where the burden of P. vivax remains high. The long‑term aim, OUCRU adds, is a single vaccination that protects against both species.
On the implementation side, vaccine rollout continues to expand in high‑burden settings. ReliefWeb reports that South Sudan has launched the second phase of its R21 malaria vaccine introduction across 52 counties to protect children. From July 2024 to May 2025, 148,878 children received a first dose, and authorities are working to accelerate coverage as the program scales, according to ReliefWeb. The update reflects growing momentum behind the WHO‑recommended vaccines for pediatric prevention in Africa.
Meanwhile, drug development efforts may soon bolster first‑line therapies threatened by resistance. News‑Medical reports that chemists at the University of California, San Francisco have re‑engineered a next‑generation antimalarial scaffold to improve solubility and oral dosing without sacrificing potency. The optimized compound matched the activity of the prior candidate artefenomel and outperformed artemisinin against artemisinin‑resistant parasites in preclinical tests, according to News‑Medical. The work, published in Science Advances, points to potential successors to current treatments that could be affordable and amenable to combination regimens.
Together, these updates sketch a multipronged strategy: R21 continues to show why it works in children by mimicking natural immunity against sporozoites, WEHI’s structural biology is powering transmission‑blocking mRNA vaccine candidates targeted inside mosquitoes, OUCRU is moving toward dual‑species protection in Indonesia, South Sudan is broadening pediatric rollout, and UCSF’s chemistry advances could strengthen the therapeutic backbone as resistance evolves.
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
On the science front, two separate announcements converged on how to stop the parasite at different stages of its life cycle. Medical Xpress reports that new immunology data explain why the WHO‑recommended R21/Matrix‑M vaccine protects so effectively at the earliest stage of infection: antibodies elicited by R21 closely mimic those produced after natural infection, targeting the sporozoite form transmitted by mosquito bites. The study, published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine and led by Texas Biomedical Research Institute in collaboration with the University of Oxford’s Jenner Institute, helps clarify how R21 blocks the parasite before it reaches the bloodstream, the point at which symptoms begin, and underscores the role of the Matrix‑M adjuvant in boosting that response, according to Medical Xpress.
A complementary strategy—blocking transmission inside the mosquito—is advancing as well. Drug Target Review reports that Australian scientists at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute have, for the first time, visualized a key malaria parasite fertilization complex using cryo‑electron microscopy, enabling the design of an mRNA vaccine candidate that induces antibodies to stop parasite reproduction in mosquitoes. According to Drug Target Review, this next‑generation approach aims to cut transmission by preventing the parasite from fertilizing and spreading within the vector, potentially breaking the human–mosquito cycle.
In Southeast Asia, Indonesia is preparing to test whether one vaccination regimen can protect against the two most widespread human malaria species. OUCRU (the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit) announced plans for a Phase 2 clinical trial in Keerom, Papua, that will co‑administer Oxford’s R21 for Plasmodium falciparum and the related Rv21 candidate for Plasmodium vivax. OUCRU notes this will be the first human trial of a dual‑species malaria vaccination strategy and, if successful, could be game‑changing for the Asia‑Pacific, where the burden of P. vivax remains high. The long‑term aim, OUCRU adds, is a single vaccination that protects against both species.
On the implementation side, vaccine rollout continues to expand in high‑burden settings. ReliefWeb reports that South Sudan has launched the second phase of its R21 malaria vaccine introduction across 52 counties to protect children. From July 2024 to May 2025, 148,878 children received a first dose, and authorities are working to accelerate coverage as the program scales, according to ReliefWeb. The update reflects growing momentum behind the WHO‑recommended vaccines for pediatric prevention in Africa.
Meanwhile, drug development efforts may soon bolster first‑line therapies threatened by resistance. News‑Medical reports that chemists at the University of California, San Francisco have re‑engineered a next‑generation antimalarial scaffold to improve solubility and oral dosing without sacrificing potency. The optimized compound matched the activity of the prior candidate artefenomel and outperformed artemisinin against artemisinin‑resistant parasites in preclinical tests, according to News‑Medical. The work, published in Science Advances, points to potential successors to current treatments that could be affordable and amenable to combination regimens.
Together, these updates sketch a multipronged strategy: R21 continues to show why it works in children by mimicking natural immunity against sporozoites, WEHI’s structural biology is powering transmission‑blocking mRNA vaccine candidates targeted inside mosquitoes, OUCRU is moving toward dual‑species protection in Indonesia, South Sudan is broadening pediatric rollout, and UCSF’s chemistry advances could strengthen the therapeutic backbone as resistance evolves.
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Global efforts against malaria saw a flurry of developments in
the past forty eight hours, led by new science on vaccines,
fresh trial plans in Asia, and program updates from Africa.
Researchers also reported advances in anti malarial drugs that could
complement vaccination campaigns. On the science front. Two separate announcements
(00:20):
converged on how to stop the parasite at different stages
of its life cycle. Medical Express reports that new immunology
data explain why the WHO recommended R twenty one matrix
M vaccine protects so effectively at the earliest stage of infection.
Antibodies elicited by R twenty one closely mimic those produced
after natural infection, targeting the sporozod form transmitted by mosquito bites.
(00:45):
The study, published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine and
led by Texas Biomedical Research Institute in collaboration with the
University of Oxford's Jenner Institute, helps clarify how R twenty
one blocks the parasite before it reaches the bloodstream, the
point at which symptoms begin, and underscores the role of
the matrix M adjuvant in boosting that response. According to
(01:09):
Medical Express, a complementary strategy blocking transmission inside the mosquito,
is advancing as well. Drug Target Review reports that Australian
scientists at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute have for
the first time visualized a key malaria parasite fertilization complex
using cryoelectron microscopy, enabling the design of an mr ANDA
(01:31):
vaccine candidate that induces antibodies to stop parasite reproduction in mosquitoes.
According to Drug Target Review, this next generation approach aims
to cut transmission by preventing the parasite from fertilizing and
spreading within the vector, potentially breaking the human mosquito cycle
in Southeast Asia. Indonesia is preparing to test whether one
(01:52):
vaccination regimen can protect against the two most widespread human
malaria species OUCRU. The Oxford University Clinical Research Unit announced
plans for a Phase two clinical trial in Kiram Popua
that will co administer Oxford's R twenty one for Plasmodium
falciparum and the related RV twenty one candidate for Plasmodium vivas.
(02:15):
Oukru notes this will be the first human trial of
a dual species malaria vaccination strategy and if successful, could
be game changing for the Asia Pacific, where the burden
of p ivacs remains high. The long term aim O
Crew adds is a single vaccination that protects against both species.
On the implementation side, vaccine rollout continues to expand in
(02:37):
high burden settings. Relief Web reports that South Sudan has
launched the second phase of its R twenty one malaria
vaccine introduction across fifty two counties to protect children. From
July twenty twenty four to May twenty twenty five, one
hundred and forty eight thousand, eight hundred and seventy eight
children received a first dose and authorities are working to
(02:57):
accelerate coverage as the program scales. According to relief Web,
the update reflects growing momentum behind the WHO recommended vaccines
for pediatric prevention in Africa. Meanwhile, drug development efforts may
soon bolster first line therapies threatened by resistance. News Medical
reports that chemists at the University of California, San Francisco
(03:19):
have re engineered a next generation anti malarial scaffold to
improve solubility and oral dosing without sacrificing potency. The optimized
compound matched the activity of the prior candidate artifenoml, and
outperformed artemesinin against artemisinin resistant parasites in preclinical tests. According
to News Medical, the work published in Science Advances points
(03:42):
to potential successors to current treatments that could be affordable
and amenable to combination regimens. Together, these updates sketch a
multi prong strategy. R twenty one continues to show why
it works in children by mimicking natural immunity against sporozoids.
WE structural biology is powering transmission blocking mr Anda vaccine
(04:03):
candidates targeted inside mosquitoes. OUSRU is moving toward dual species
protection in Indonesia. South Sudan is broadening pediatric rollout, and
UCSF's chemistry advances could strengthen the therapeutic backbone as resistance
evolves
Global efforts against malaria saw a flurry of developments in
the past forty eight hours, led by new science on vaccines,
fresh trial plans in Asia, and program updates from Africa.
Researchers also reported advances in anti malarial drugs that could
complement vaccination campaigns. On the science front. Two separate announcements
(00:20):
converged on how to stop the parasite at different stages
of its life cycle. Medical Express reports that new immunology
data explain why the WHO recommended R twenty one matrix
M vaccine protects so effectively at the earliest stage of infection.
Antibodies elicited by R twenty one closely mimic those produced
after natural infection, targeting the sporozod form transmitted by mosquito bites.
(00:45):
The study, published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine and
led by Texas Biomedical Research Institute in collaboration with the
University of Oxford's Jenner Institute, helps clarify how R twenty
one blocks the parasite before it reaches the bloodstream, the
point at which symptoms begin, and underscores the role of
the matrix M adjuvant in boosting that response. According to
(01:09):
Medical Express, a complementary strategy blocking transmission inside the mosquito,
is advancing as well. Drug Target Review reports that Australian
scientists at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute have for
the first time visualized a key malaria parasite fertilization complex
using cryoelectron microscopy, enabling the design of an mr ANDA
(01:31):
vaccine candidate that induces antibodies to stop parasite reproduction in mosquitoes.
According to Drug Target Review, this next generation approach aims
to cut transmission by preventing the parasite from fertilizing and
spreading within the vector, potentially breaking the human mosquito cycle
in Southeast Asia. Indonesia is preparing to test whether one
(01:52):
vaccination regimen can protect against the two most widespread human
malaria species OUCRU. The Oxford University Clinical Research Unit announced
plans for a Phase two clinical trial in Kiram Popua
that will co administer Oxford's R twenty one for Plasmodium
falciparum and the related RV twenty one candidate for Plasmodium vivas.
(02:15):
Oukru notes this will be the first human trial of
a dual species malaria vaccination strategy and if successful, could
be game changing for the Asia Pacific, where the burden
of p ivacs remains high. The long term aim O
Crew adds is a single vaccination that protects against both species.
On the implementation side, vaccine rollout continues to expand in
(02:37):
high burden settings. Relief Web reports that South Sudan has
launched the second phase of its R twenty one malaria
vaccine introduction across fifty two counties to protect children. From
July twenty twenty four to May twenty twenty five, one
hundred and forty eight thousand, eight hundred and seventy eight
children received a first dose and authorities are working to
(02:57):
accelerate coverage as the program scales. According to relief Web,
the update reflects growing momentum behind the WHO recommended vaccines
for pediatric prevention in Africa. Meanwhile, drug development efforts may
soon bolster first line therapies threatened by resistance. News Medical
reports that chemists at the University of California, San Francisco
(03:19):
have re engineered a next generation anti malarial scaffold to
improve solubility and oral dosing without sacrificing potency. The optimized
compound matched the activity of the prior candidate artifenoml, and
outperformed artemesinin against artemisinin resistant parasites in preclinical tests. According
to News Medical, the work published in Science Advances points
(03:42):
to potential successors to current treatments that could be affordable
and amenable to combination regimens. Together, these updates sketch a
multi prong strategy. R twenty one continues to show why
it works in children by mimicking natural immunity against sporozoids.
WE structural biology is powering transmission blocking mr Anda vaccine
(04:03):
candidates targeted inside mosquitoes. OUSRU is moving toward dual species
protection in Indonesia. South Sudan is broadening pediatric rollout, and
UCSF's chemistry advances could strengthen the therapeutic backbone as resistance
evolves
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