Novavax announces results from Phase 3 trial of R21/Matrix-M malaria

Peer-reviewed results from a Phase 3 efficacy trial of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine were published in The Lancet. The trial was conducted across multiple sites in four African countries with 4,800 children aged 5-36 months. Data from this trial served as the basis for the World Health Organization’s, WHO, recent prequalification of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine, paving the way for a global rollout that is expected to commence in mid-2024 by Serum Institute of India. The publication reported: Efficacy of 75% when administered prior to the high transmission season:In areas with highly seasonal malaria transmission, the R21/Matrix-M vaccine was shown to reduce symptomatic cases of malaria by 75% during the 12 months following a three-dose series. Efficacy of 68% when administered in an age-based schedule in regions where malaria is present perenniallyduring the 12 months following the first three doses. The most common adverse events with the vaccine were fever and injection site pain.