Malaria Vaccine Prices Slashed, Improving Access for Endemic Countries

In a significant development in the fight against malaria, recent news highlights substantial progress and upcoming changes in the availability and affordability of malaria vaccines.

As of the past few days, it has been announced that the price of the world's first malaria vaccine, RTS,S, will be slashed by more than half. By 2028, the cost per dose is expected to drop to less than $5 in endemic countries, thanks to a commitment by drugmakers Bharat Biotech and GSK. This price reduction is made possible through process improvements, expanded production capacity, and cost-effective manufacturing, along with minimal profit margins. The partnership between GSK and Bharat Biotech, which began in 2021, has been instrumental in this achievement, with Bharat Biotech investing over $200 million in new manufacturing facilities and technology transfers[3][5].

This reduction in price comes at a critical time as the rollout of both the RTS,S and the newer R21 malaria vaccines continues to gain momentum. By early April 2025, 19 countries in Africa had already incorporated these vaccines into their childhood immunization programs and national malaria control plans. These countries include Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda. Additional countries are expected to introduce and scale up these vaccines throughout 2025[1].

The R21 vaccine, which was prequalified by the World Health Organization (WHO) in December 2023, has shown promising results, particularly in areas with highly seasonal malaria transmission. In such regions, the R21 vaccine has reduced malaria cases by 75%, a efficacy rate similar to that of the RTS,S vaccine when administered seasonally[4].

Both vaccines are recommended for use in children living in areas with moderate to high malaria transmission. They have been shown to reduce uncomplicated malaria by around 40%, severe malaria by about 30%, and all-cause mortality by 13%. These vaccines are part of a broader strategy that includes other control interventions such as insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) and effective case management[2].

With the support of global health organizations like Gavi, the introduction of these vaccines through routine immunization programs is set to expand. By the end of 2025, 12 endemic countries in Africa will have introduced the RTS,S vaccine, further enhancing access to life-saving malaria prevention for children[5].

These developments mark a significant step forward in the global effort to combat malaria, offering hope for millions of children living in areas where the disease remains a major public health risk.

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
In a significant development in the fight against malaria. Recent
news highlights substantial progress and upcoming changes in the availability
and affordability of malaria vaccines. As of the past few days,
it has been announced that the price of the world's
first malaria vaccine RTS will be slashed by more than
half by twenty twenty eight. The cost per dose is

(00:22):
expected to drop to less than five dollars in endemic
countries thanks to a commitment by drug makers Barret Biotech
and GSK. This price reduction is made possible through process improvements,
expanded production capacity, and cost effective manufacturing, along with minimal
profit margins. The partnership between GSK and Barrot Biotech, which

(00:45):
began in twenty twenty one, has been instrumental in this achievement,
with Barot Biotech investing over two hundred million dollars in
new manufacturing facilities and technology transfers three five. This reduction
in price comes at a critical time as the rollout
of both the u RTSs and the newer R twenty
one malaria vaccines continues to gain momentum. By early April

(01:06):
twenty twenty five, nineteen countries in Africa had already incorporated
these vaccines into their childhood immunization programs and national malaria
control plans. These countries include Benin, Burkina, Fasso, Burundi, Cameroon,
Central African Republic, Cote d'ivoir, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria,

(01:30):
Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda. Additional countries are
expected to introduce and scale up these vaccines throughout twenty
twenty five. The R twenty one vaccine, which was pre
qualified by the World Health Organization WHO in December twenty
twenty three, has shown promising results, particularly in areas with
highly seasonal malaria transmission. In such regions, the R twenty

(01:53):
one vaccine has reduced malaria cases by seventy five percent
at efficacy rate similar to that of the rts S
vaccine when administered seasonally. Both vaccines are recommended for use
in children living in areas with moderate to high malaria transmission.
They have been shown to reduce uncomplicated malaria by around
forty percent, severe malaria by about thirty percent, and all

(02:15):
cause mortality by thirteen percent. These vaccines are part of
a broader strategy that includes other control interventions such as
insecticide treated nets ITNs, and effective case management too. With
the support of global health organizations like GAVI, the introduction
of these vaccines through routine immunization programs is set is

(02:36):
set to expand. By the end of twenty twenty five,
twelve endemic countries in Africa will have introduced the RTSs vaccine,
further enhancing access to life saving malaria prevention for children.
These developments mark a significant step forward in the global
effort to combat malaria, offering hope for millions of children

(02:57):
living in areas where the disease remains a major public
health risk.