Imagine a single shield that protects you from two different types of malaria parasites at once. Instead of just stopping you from getting sick, this vaccine also stops the parasite from jumping from one person to another. It uses a mix of high-tech protein shells and heat-stable mRNA, similar to the latest COVID-19 shots, to make it easier to transport and store.
Current malaria control is stalling due to insecticide and drug resistance, despite $4 billion in annual spending. Existing vaccines are limited in the parasite species they target and the logistics of their delivery.
A bivalent vaccine candidate using VLP and thermostable mRNA-LNP technologies. It targets both P. falciparum and P. vivax to provide individual protection and block community transmission.
If you are a vaccine producer dealing with the need for high-volume, stable products — this project developed thermostable mRNA-LNP vaccines that reduce cold-chain reliance. This allows for easier distribution in rural areas where 263 million clinical cases occur.
If you are a biotech company dealing with complex antigen delivery — this project developed SpyCatcher bonding for bivalent antigen display. This technology allows a single vaccine formulation to target both P. falciparum and P. vivax.
If you are a health organization dealing with the stalling of malaria control due to drug resistance — this project developed a two-stage vaccine targeting both sporozoites and sexual-stage parasites. This provides both individual protection and community-wide transmission blocking.
Based on available project data, the specific unit cost or price of the vaccine is not mentioned; however, the project received an EU contribution of EUR 2,620,000.
Yes, the consortium includes partners with access to both small and very large scale GMP manufacturing capacity to support the eradication agenda.
Based on available project data, specific licensing terms are not provided, but the project involves 6 industry partners and 4 SMEs developing proprietary VLP and mRNA-LNP technologies.
The project plan includes down-selecting a lead candidate for GMP manufacture and a clinical trial in year 4 of the 2023-2027 period.
The development of thermostable mRNA vaccines is designed to overcome logistics barriers, making it more compatible with infrastructure in low-income regions.
The consortium is heavily industry-weighted, with 67% of its 9 partners being industrial entities, including 4 SMEs. This structure, spanning 6 countries (CH, DE, IN, PT, SE, UK), indicates a strong focus on commercial viability and manufacturing scalability rather than purely academic research. The inclusion of partners already involved in the R21/Matrix-M program suggests a high level of existing expertise in bringing malaria vaccines to the WHO prequalification stage.
Contact the European Vaccine Initiative EV in Germany
Contact us to connect with the UltiMalVax consortium for licensing mRNA-LNP or VLP vaccine technologies.
