On the PulseHighlights on biomedical research 
Second Malaria Vaccine Is Around the Corner
BY: Benny ChungSep 1, 2022

As discussed above, the journey ahead in combating infectious diseases is still a long way to go. Increases in both case incidence and mortality for malaria were recorded in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemics, in 2020. At the time of writing this, some imported malaria cases with one death occurred have raised local concern reminding people that we have not eradicated the disease as yet and risk is somewhere out there. To achieve the eventual goal of elimination of the disease, vaccination could be one of the potent methods. The first malaria vaccine Mosquirix received endorsement from the WHO last year. Also, there are several other vaccines under development. Monoclonal antibody injection L9LS against malaria went through phase 1 clinical trial lately. Of the 17 participants, 88% (n=15) were protected after controlled human malaria infection. Furthermore the trial explored the efficacy of different doses; development of parasitemia was averted in all those received 5 or 20 mg per kilogram (kg) intravenously (IV), while only 1 in 5 had parasitemia development in both 1mg per kg IV and 5 mg per kg subcutaneous groups. It possibly provides protection for up to 6 to 12 months, and population at risk better receives one dose at the beginning of transmission season.