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ICMR is developing indigenous multi-stage Malaria vaccine named 'AdFalciVax' | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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ICMR is developing indigenous multi-stage Malaria vaccine named 'AdFalciVax'

Posted 21 Jul 2025

2 min read

Vaccine is being developed through ICMR's Regional Medical Research Centre, Bhubaneswar and National Institute of Malaria Research in partnership with Department of Biotechnology-National Institute of Immunology.

About AdFalciVax Vaccine: 

  • Dual-Stage Targeting of Plasmodium falciparum (Deadliest malaria parasite Species): Unlike existing vaccines that target only one life stage, it targets two critical stages in parasite’s lifecycle i.e.
    • Pre-erythrocytic (liver) stage
    • Transmission (sexual) stage
  • Recombinant Chimeric Vaccine: A "chimeric" vaccine refers to vaccine that combines antigens from different stages of a parasite's life cycle into a single immunogen.
    • Recombinant DNA technology is a process where DNA molecules from different sources are combined to create a new DNA sequence.
  • Indigenous Development: It marks India's entry into the global league of advanced malaria vaccine R&D.

Advantages over Existing Malaria Vaccines:

  • Broader protection: Unlike existing WHO-recommended vaccines RTS, S/AS01 (Mosquirix) and R21/Matrix-M, AdFalciVax offers dual-stage protection.
  • Lower risk of immune evasion and potential for better long-term immunity
  • Extended thermal stability with functionality maintained for over nine months at room temperature
  • Cost-Effective Manufacturing: Produced in a safe and scalable bacterial system i.e. Lactococcus lactis.

About Malaria

  • Life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium parasites and does not spread from person to person.
    • Malaria mostly spreads to people through bites of some infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
  • Geographical prevalence: Mostly found in tropical countries.
  • Five Plasmodium species cause malaria in humans: P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae, P. ovale, P. knowlesi.
  • Tags :
  • AdFalciVax Vaccine
  • Malaria Vaccines
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