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| credit: Dennis Kunkel |
The early results of a major clinical trial show that a malaria vaccine cut the risk of contracting the disease in children by half. The vaccine developed by GlaxoSmithKline's laboratory in Belgium and currently labeled RTS,S attempts to block the
Plasmodium falciparum parasite
[photo] transmitted by mosquitos which kills 800,000 people a year, mostly children. Ninety percent of cases are in sub-Saharan Africa. The phase III trial results were published on-line in the New England Journal of Medicine. Children aged 5 years to 17 months experienced a 56% lower risk of developing clinical malaria. Six thousand children were vaccinated and followed for 12 months after the vaccination. The vaccine is a medical milestone since it is the first vaccine targeting a parasitic microorganism rather than bacteria or viruses. While initial results are encouraging, scientists say more evaluation and research is needed, and there is some question of whether philanthropists will back a vaccine that is effective only about half the time. GlaxoSmithKline has spent $300 million to develop RTS,S but hopes to bring an effective low cost vaccine to Africa by 2015. Malaria has plagued man since since the beginning of civilization and is recognized as a disease commonly associated with poverty because its victims are unable to afford preventive medications, mosquito repellants or netting.
