DEFEAT MALARIA? Yes we can.

Last week, two studies published in the New England Journal of Medicine reported promising news about a malaria vaccine candidate that our company, GlaxoSmithKline, is developing in collaboration with the Malaria Vaccine Initiative, a program of the nonprofit organization PATH, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and scientists from across Europe, North America and Africa.

The studies focused on the most vulnerable populations in Kenya and Tanzania. One study reported that the vaccine candidate was 53% effective in preventing episodes of clinical malaria in children five to 17 months old. The second study demonstrated that the vaccine candidate can be administered alongside the standard set of vaccines used in national immunization programs for young infants.

I mentioned this in passing earlier, but this is potentially huge. Most westerners have no idea what a burden malaria is on large parts of the world, but just imagine how economically productive you would be if you had the flu most of the time and you’ll get some sense. I hope it pans out.