Biontech plans to develop a vaccine against malaria
Clinical trials will begin by the end of next year and it is expected that it will generate the necessary immunity to prevent the disease
The German biotechnology company Biontech plans to develop a messenger RNA vaccine against malaria in the coming years, the pharmaceutical company announced today.
The firm plans to start a clinical trial in late 2022. An mRNA vaccine (mRNA stands for messenger ribonucleic acid.) teaches the body’s cells to produce a protein or a portion of a protein that triggers an immune response against the pathogen without having to come into contact with it.
Biontech has announced its intention to develop a safe and highly effective mRNA vaccine that generates long-lasting immunity for the prevention of malaria. In addition, the company is exploring the possibility of creating production facilities in Africa that can manufacture mRNA-based vaccines.
Malaria is one of the most dangerous infectious diseases in the world. In 2019, the WHO recorded 229 million cases and more than 400,000 deaths, most of them in children under the age of five. For decades, researchers have looked for a reliable vaccine, but so far none have been approved.
Source: dpa
