WHO Recommends Pilot Tests of GSK’s Malaria Vaccine

The World Health Organization is recommending pilot tests of GlaxoSmithKline’s Mosquirix to demonstrate how best to deliver the malaria vaccine in a real-world setting.

WHO would like to see three to five large demonstration projects to understand the challenges to providing full immunization against the disease. A final policy recommendation is expected by the end of this year.

GSK and PATH’s Malaria Vaccine Initiative, part of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, will participate with WHO on the pilots, says GSK spokeswoman Anna Padula.

The European Medicines Agency recommended Mosquirix in July as a protection for children ages six weeks to 17 months in sub-Saharan Africa, under a review process used for products intended exclusively for markets outside the EU.