NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Friday, June 24, 2016

LONDON – The GAVI global vaccine alliance has offered funding of up to $27.5 million for pilot tests of GlaxoSmithKline’s first-generation malaria vaccine, but only if other organizations promise to match that commitment.

Evidence so far on the shot, developed by the British drugmaker with financial backing from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, “suggests a malaria vaccine could have a significant impact in reducing malaria mortality in Africa”, but more research is needed, GAVI said.

Speaking to Reuters after a board meeting in Geneva, Seth Berkley, GAVI’s chief executive, said the alliance was ready “to play its part” in backing the first phase pilot studies if other funders also came forward. GAVI is working with UNITAID and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria on the issue, he said.

He added, however, that GAVI’s board had made clear that this “should not be considered as an indication of future GAVI funding” for this vaccine, or for future similar pilot schemes for other vaccines.