malaria vaccine — Malaria takes a devastating toll on pregnant women and their babies across Africa. A pioneering EU-funded project is now working on a new vaccine aimed at increasing protection for this vulnerable group.
In sub-Saharan Africa, malaria poses a deadly threat, often resulting in miscarriage, stillbirth, low birthweight, and serious illness in mothers and their newborns. The European Vaccine Initiative (EVI) in Heidelberg, Germany, is leading a collaborative effort to address this issue through the ADVANCE-VAC4PM project, which aims to develop a vaccine specifically for adolescent girls who have never been pregnant. This innovative approach could significantly enhance maternal and neonatal health in malaria-endemic regions.
Dr Flavia D’Alessio, who heads vaccine research at EVI, emphasises the importance of this initiative. “When a woman becomes pregnant for the first time, she is particularly vulnerable to malaria. The parasite infects red blood cells that can then pass into the placenta and accumulate there, causing very adverse outcomes for both mother and baby,” she explains.
The project aims to create a vaccine akin to the HPV vaccine, which protects against cervical cancer, offering long-lasting immunity for women before they enter childbearing age. This could significantly reduce the incidence of malaria-related complications during pregnancy.
Statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO) underline the urgency of the situation: malaria in pregnancy is linked to between 75,000 and 200,000 infant deaths annually, along with over 800,000 low-birthweight babies. The condition known as placental malaria can lead to further complications such as anaemia and high blood pressure in mothers, especially during their first pregnancies.
Researchers are focusing on a malaria parasite protein called VAR2CSA, which enables infected red blood cells to adhere to placental tissue. By blocking this protein, the vaccine aims to safeguard both mother and child from the most severe effects of the disease.
Two promising vaccine candidates have emerged from this research: PAMVAC, developed by the University of Copenhagen, and PRIMVAC, created by the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM). Both target similar areas of the VAR2CSA protein, and researchers are exploring the use of virus-like particles to enhance immune responses. Early trials have shown that these candidates are safe, well-tolerated, and capable of eliciting strong immune reactions.
The next critical phase involves observing whether this immune response provides tangible protection during pregnancy. Researchers will follow women from vaccination through delivery of their first child to determine if vaccinated individuals experience fewer cases of placental malaria compared to those who are unvaccinated. Dr D’Alessio stresses, “We will need to follow women through this entire period to demonstrate protection.”
If proven effective, the vaccines will undergo comprehensive testing prior to seeking regulatory approval and WHO prequalification, setting the stage for large-scale production and distribution. The ADVANCE-VAC4PM consortium comprises ten prominent research institutions from Europe and Africa, pooling their expertise in malaria vaccine development.
Preparation for field trials is already underway in Burkina Faso under the leadership of Professor Sodiomon Sirima at the Groupe de Recherche Action en Santé, a non-governmental biomedical research organisation. Previous studies involving non-pregnant adult women indicated a promising immune response, which now needs to be evaluated as these women transition into pregnancy.
Professor Sirima remarks, “Now we need to see whether these defences are maintained once the girls become sexually active and later pregnant.” The timeline for this phase could extend up to two years, depending on the number of pregnancies among participants.
Beyond the clinical focus, the ADVANCE-VAC4PM team is committed to building research capacity in the region. This includes training postgraduate students, mentoring early-career researchers in Africa, and developing digital tools for monitoring pregnancy outcomes, all while preparing for larger efficacy trials.
The journey to a vaccine for placental malaria is complex, but with two advanced candidates and strong international collaboration, the hope of protecting mothers and babies from this devastating disease is closer than ever. Successful implementation of these vaccines could prevent thousands of maternal and infant deaths annually, marking a significant step forward in the fight against malaria.
