GlaxoSmithKline Sees Staged Roll-Out of Malaria Vaccine

Friday, July 31, 2015

The world’s first malaria vaccine, which won a green light last week from European drugs regulators, will be rolled out gradually in Africa, its maker said on Wednesday.

“We believe that there should be a thoughtful, staged roll-out of this vaccine, particularly because it is important that we acquire more knowledge about where it really works the best,” GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Chief Executive Andrew Witty told reporters.

Experts also need to build up a bigger database on safety, he added, since it is the first time a vaccine will have been launched in Africa without any history of use in developed countries.

Mosquirix still faces hurdles before being made available in Africa, with a review pending at the World Health Organization (WHO). It also needs the support of governments and other funders, who will pay for it, suggesting it will not be in use before 2017, according to the WHO.

Source: Reuters (link opens in a new window)

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Health Care
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vaccines