Pre-clinical and clinical development of the first placental malaria vaccine

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Malaria during pregnancy is a massive health problem in endemic areas. Placental malaria infections caused by Plasmodium falciparum are responsible for up to one million babies being born with a low birth weight every year. Significant efforts have been invested into preventing the condition.

Areas covered: Pub Med was searched using the broad terms ‘malaria parasite placenta’ to identify studies of interactions between parasite and host, ‘prevention of placental malaria’ to identify current strategies to prevent placental malaria, and ‘placental malaria vaccine’ to identify pre-clinical vaccine development. However, all papers from these searches were not systematically included.

Expert commentary: The first phase I clinical trials of vaccines are well underway. Trials testing efficacy are more complicated to carry out as only women that are exposed to parasites during pregnancy will contribute to endpoint measurements, further it may require extensive follow-up to establish protection. Future second generation vaccines may overcome the inherent challenges in making an effective placental malaria vaccine.

KEYWORDS:

• Placental malaria
• Plasmodium falciparum
• pregnancy
• vaccine
• VAR2CSA

Declaration of interest

C Pehrson was supported by the University of Copenhagen and EU through the Seventh Framework Programme under grant agreement number 304815 (PlacMalVac). M.A Nielsen was supported by the University of Copenhagen and EU through the Seventh Framework Programme under grant agreement number 304815 (PlacMalVac) and is part owner of the patent application W02016112921 (Virus-like particle with efficient epitope display). A Salanti was supported by the University of Copenhagen and EU through the Seventh Framework Programme under grant agreement number 304815 (PlacMalVac), is part owner of the issued patent WO2004067559 (Compounds useful in the diagnosis and treatment of pregnancy-associated malaria) and is part owner of the patent application W02016112921 (Virus-like particle with efficient epitope display). T G Theander was supported by the University of Copenhagen and EU through the Seventh Framework Programme under grant agreement number 304815 (PlacMalVac), is part owner of the issued patent WO2004067559 (Compounds useful in the diagnosis and treatment of pregnancy-associated malaria) and is part owner of the patent application W02016112921 (Virus-like particle with efficient epitope display). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Additional information

Funding

The cGMP manufacture of our vaccine was funded by the European vaccine initiative (www.euvaccine.eu), the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), through KfW and the Irish Aid, by EU through the Seventh Framework Programme under Grant Agreement No 304815 (PlacMalVac) and the by Danish National Advanced Technology Foundation. The salary of C Pehrson, A Salanti and M.A Nielsen was in part provided by EU through the Seventh Framework Programme under Grant Agreement No 304815 (PlacMalVac), the remaining salaries are provided by the University of Copenhagen.