The world's first malaria vaccine will be available in the market by next year, as per reports. Pharma gaint GSK has submitted a regulatory application to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for its malaria vaccine candidate, RTS,S.

It will be exclusively for use against the Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasite, which is most prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Around 90 percent of estimated deaths from malaria occur in SSA, and 77 percent of these are children under the age of five.

Data from the phase III vaccine trial program conducted at 13 African research centers in eight African countries (Burkina Faso, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Tanzania) including over 16,000 infants and young children have also been included to support the filing.

Results from a large-scale Phase III trial showed that over 18 months of follow-up, children aged 5-17 months after being given the RTS,S vaccine, experienced 46 percent fewer cases of clinical malaria, compared to children immunized with a control vaccine.

An average of 941 cases of clinical malaria were prevented over 18 months of follow-up for every 1,000 children vaccinated in this age group. Severe malaria cases were reduced by 36 percent; 21 cases of severe malaria were prevented over 18 months of follow-up for every 1,000 children vaccinated. Malaria hospitalisations were reduced by 42 percent.