After decades of frustration for scientists trying to create a useful vaccine against the malaria parasite
GlaxoSmithKline's RTS,S/AS02A, a fusion of immunogenic components of the circumsporozoite protein with hepatitis B surface antigen, plus a proprietary adjuvant, achieved a 58% efficacy against severe disease in 1- to 5-year-olds in a phase IIb trial in Mozambique, with signs of better efficacy among the younger end of the range. Nearly 40% of malaria mortality is believed to occur in children under 1 year old.
Pedro Alonso of the University of Barcelona, who led the clinical trial design and implementation, told