The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has developed a candidate malaria vaccine named AdVacflaVax, designed to target Plasmodium falciparum — the most deadly malaria parasite responsible for severe infections and deaths worldwide.
Malaria claims nearly 400,000 lives globally each year. A successful vaccine could save millions, especially across Africa and South Asia. For India, where malaria cases have steadily declined, AdVacflaVax could accelerate the country’s goal of total malaria elimination.
The vaccine uses parts of the malaria parasite’s genes — CSP (circumsporozoite protein) and PfGARP (glycophorin-binding protein) — to trigger an immune response that prevents the parasite from developing into a severe infection.
No. AdVacflaVax is effective only against Plasmodium falciparum. It does not protect against P. vivax, another major malaria strain common in India.
In early tests, AdVacflaVax demonstrated over 90% protection and generated a stronger, longer-lasting immune response than existing vaccines like RTS,S and R21.
Not yet. AdVacflaVax has undergone successful trials on animals, but human clinical trials are yet to begin pending ethical and regulatory clearances.
The vaccine includes alum as an adjuvant — a compound that enhances immune response. Alum is already a safe and approved component in many existing vaccines.
India’s malaria cases have declined sharply from 2.93 million in 1995 to 0.18 million in 2022. Deaths dropped from 1,105 in 1995 to just 33 in 2022, reflecting major progress in disease control.
ICMR plans to collaborate with private sector firms for large-scale human trials, vaccine manufacturing, and commercial rollout once the vaccine proves safe and effective.
ICMR will apply for ethical and regulatory approvals to initiate human trials. If results remain positive, the vaccine could be rolled out in several years as a key tool in India’s malaria elimination strategy.
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