Malarial parasites are developing resistance to anti-malarial drugs; therefore, conventional treatment for malaria has proven to be less efficacious. Malaria vaccines would curb the growth of malarial cases and help save millions of lives. The development of a malaria vaccine has been one of the greatest challenges faced by research institutes and manufacturers. Several vaccines have been studied over the years and have failed to owe to the nature of the plasmodium strain. Therefore, the evolution of a malaria vaccine is a complex scenario due to the difficulties in developing a suitable vaccine. Extensive studies on the development of malaria vaccines have been continuously carried out with enormous funding received by various organizations such as the Gates Foundation, the National Institute of Health (NIH), pharmaceutical industries such as GSK, the European Commission, and others.
Almost 50% of the world’s population is at higher risk of acquiring malaria. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 212 malaria cases were reported globally in 2015, resulting in 429,000 malaria deaths. A rise in awareness and prevention measures for malaria has led to a reduction in cases since 2010. Malaria incidence is highest in Sub-Saharan Africa, accounting for 90% of global incidence and 92% of malaria deaths. Africa has thus been made the target region for all malaria vaccine development.
The first malaria vaccine by Glaxo SmithKline plc (GSK)—Mosquirix (RTS, S)—received a positive scientific opinion from the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Mosquirix is being developed in partnership between GSK and the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative. Once developed, it would be the first approved vaccine for a parasitic disease and would help curb the incidence of malaria. Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi have decided to partner with the WHO in the Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme (MVIP), which would make Mosquirix available in the aforementioned countries. A pilot study for Mosquirix is said to begin in African regions by January 2018. GSK has assured us that it will not gain any profits from the product. GSK intends to price the product at the cost of manufacture plus a 5% margin. The additional margin shall be invested in further research on malaria.
The global malaria vaccine market is segmented as follows:
By Target
- Pre-erythrocytic
- Transmission Blocking
- Blood Stage
By Strain
- Plasmodium Falciparum
- Plasmodium Vivax
By Geography
- North America
- Europe
- Germany
- France
- Italy
- U.K.
- Russia
- Rest of Europe
- Asia-Pacific
- India
- China
- Japan
- Rest of Asia-Pacific
- Latin America
- Brazil
- Mexico
- Rest of Latin America
- Middle East and Africa
- GCC Countries
- South Africa
- Rest of Middle East and Africa
Market outlook and key players
There are many malaria vaccines that are in the pipeline and could be potential candidates in the near future. For example, Sanaria Inc.’s vaccine PfSPZ is in Phase I studies and has received fast-track designation by the FDA, proving it to be a favorable vaccine. This molecule could be a threat to GSK’s Mosquirix. Higher malaria prevalence and the continuous development of successful vaccines drive demand for more products, resulting in positive growth over the forecast period.Other key players in the malaria vaccine market that could hold a dominant position are Nobelpharma Co., Ltd., GenVec, Inc., and Sumaya Biotech.
The pipeline vaccines are as follows:
- Pfs25-EPA/AS01—Pre-clinical
- Preclinical Pfs230-EPA/AS01
- Pre-clinical CSP mAb
This report offers the following:
- An overview of the global malaria vaccine market
- Market outlook and in-depth analysis are provided for the forecast period 2015–2025, along with historical market estimations for the periods 2015 and 2016. Respective growth rates for the period 2017–2025 have also been incorporated.
- Market evaluation pertaining to each segment
- Qualitative information with respect to market drivers, opportunities, and restraints
- Detailed information on the existing malaria vaccine and pipeline vaccines
- A complete understanding of the competitive landscape of the malaria vaccine market. Profiles of key players in terms of financial performance, product portfolio, market trends, and general information.
