Oxford University has made a major advancement in the fight against malaria.
An agreement reached between Oxford and the Serum Institute of India will support the production and development of R78C, an element of a novel multi-stage malaria vaccine.
This collaboration follows their previous work together on the R21 malaria vaccine and seeks to improve both the efficacy and longevity of protection offered to recipients.
Professor Simon Draper, who serves as professor of vaccinology and translational medicine within Oxford’s Department of Paediatrics, explained that the agreement marks a pivotal moment in efforts to develop a highly effective multi-stage malaria vaccine.
He noted that by combining multiple antigens that target different phases of the parasite’s development, the aim is to provide stronger and more sustained immunity.
He added that the collaboration with the Serum Institute of India is vital to guaranteeing that, if these vaccines demonstrate success, they can be manufactured in substantial volumes and distributed to the populations who require them most urgently.
The licensing deal grants SII a non-exclusive, global licence to develop, produce, and potentially commercialise the R78C vaccine candidate, which focuses on the blood-stage of the Plasmodium falciparum parasite.
This endeavour is one component of a broader network of collaborations supporting the development of novel malaria vaccines.
Dr Umesh Shaligram, executive director of the Serum Institute of India, said that malaria prevention continues to demand continued scientific progress, especially as efforts advance toward vaccines capable of targeting the parasite at multiple points during its lifecycle.
He stated that SII has consistently focused on advancing such approaches with the aim of making them both effective and widely available.
He further noted that this agreement with Oxford University to develop R78C extends their current working relationship and facilitates the continued progress of next-generation malaria vaccine candidates.
The Oxford-Serum collaboration has repeatedly emphasised the necessity of ensuring equitable access to vaccines in low and middle-income nations by leveraging SII’s international manufacturing capacity.
If R78C proves successful, it could be produced cost-effectively and on a large scale for deployment in areas where malaria is prevalent.
Malaria remains a significant public health challenge, with hundreds of millions of cases recorded each year – predominantly affecting young children in sub-Saharan Africa.
Dr Matthew Carpenter, deputy head of licensing and ventures for life sciences at Oxford University Innovation, said that the organisation is delighted to continue supporting the university’s malaria vaccine programme through this expanded relationship with the Serum Institute of India.
He noted that this licensing agreement represents a meaningful advancement in developing a multi-stage vaccine, enabling R78C to be combined with existing elements.
He explained that it illustrates how Oxford’s knowledge and research can be converted into impactful global health interventions, merging scientific discovery with manufacturing expertise to expedite vaccine development for those most affected by malaria.