Mixed results for a malaria vaccine

Abstract

Although malaria can be effectively controlled in high-risk endemic areas using measures such as bed nets, insecticides and antimalarial drugs, the complete eradication of the malaria-causing parasite is still a considerable challenge.An effective vaccine would offer hope for reaching this ambitious goal. A recent study describes the interim results from an ongoing phase 3 trial to assess the candidate malaria vaccine RTS, S/AS01 (ref. 1). This vaccine is composed of a hepatitis B surface antigen fused to a recombinant antigen from part of the malaria circumsporozoite protein (CSP) in the AS01 adjuvant. The vaccine was shown to offer some protection against both clinical and severe malaria. We asked three experts to comment on what the implications of this trial are for the future of the RTS, S vaccine, as well as for general strategies to eradicate malaria. © 2011 Nature America, Inc. All rights reserved.