AdCh63 ME.TRAP MALARIA VACCINE - Isis Project No 3479

A new malaria vaccine developed at Oxford is currently undergoing Phase I/IIa clinical trials.  The vaccine, based on a simian adenoviral vector encoding a pre-erythrocytic malarial antigen, is able to generate potent T cell responses.

Marketing Opportunity

Malaria is one of the world's deadliest killers, responsible for in excess of 1 million fatalities and between 300 and 500 million clinical cases each year, mainly affecting women and children in Sub-Saharan Africa and SE Asia.  Malaria has also become a problem in the developed world as increasing numbers of tourists visit endemic regions. The most deadly strain of the disease, P. falciparum, is responsible for 80% of malaria infections and 90% of deaths.   As yet, there is no vaccine on the market targeting this strain.  The complex life cycle and antigenic variability of this parasite, which causes malaria, have presented challenges in the creation of a vaccine.

The Oxford Invention

One of the key goals in field of malaria vaccines is to develop a vaccine that provides long lasting protective efficacy.   The most advanced vaccine currently in development provides transient protection and at best 50% protective efficacy against clinical malaria.  

Oxford researchers in collaboration with the Italian company Okairos have developed a new vaccine that seeks to address the issues of long lasting protection and increased protective efficacy.  The vaccine is comprised of a simian adenoviral vector that encodes the highly conserved malarial antigen TRAP fused to a multi-epitope (ME) string containing epitopes from several malaria antigens.  

The vaccine has completed one Phase I trial where it demonstrated a potent T cell response. Early clinical proof of concept for the malaria vaccine is expected to be obtained in 2009 in a Phase IIa sporozoite challenge study in humans.  The vaccine could be used either as a stand-alone program or in combination with other vaccines.  Using different vaccine vectors the Oxford Group has already safely administered the ME.TRAP fusion protein to over 700 volunteers in the UK and Africa. 

Patent Status

The Oxford invention is the subject of an international patent application. Isis would like to talk to companies interested in developing the commercial opportunity. Please contact the Isis Project Manager.

Request Further Information: Project Number 3479 - AdCh63 ME.TRAP Malaria Vaccine