Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Saturday, Oct 16, 2004
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Saturday, Oct 16, 2004 |
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Research & Development Glaxo malaria vaccine trials in new phase Our Bureau
Mumbai , Oct. 15 AFTER about two decades of trying to develop a vaccine against malaria, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals has achieved a breakthrough of sorts. In a proof-of-concept study, researchers with the company have reported that their candidate vaccine for malaria protected a significant number of children against uncomplicated malaria infection and several other forms of the disease for at least six months, GSK officials said here in Mumbai. And while these global studies are now set to enter clinical trials in the third phase, GSK's Indian arm looks to bring in some of these trials into India. "It is a democratic disease that kills about three million people in developing countries every year. In India too, malaria ranks among the most dreaded diseases. With the trials entering the third phase, we will look to make India one of the centres," said Mr Kal Sundaram, Managing Director of GSK Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Clinical trials till date on the vaccine candidate had been done in Mozambique, Africa, as a joint public-private collaboration, he said. About 2,022 children were involved in the trial conducted by CISM (a Mozambique Government health body), GSK Biologicals and Malaria Vaccine Initiative of PATH (a non-governmental organisation promoted by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation). The malaria vaccine trial efficacy trial has confirmed the vaccines' safety in children between one and four and it was found to be effective even against severe forms of malaria, such as cerebral malaria, said Dr Kiran V.Marthak, Vice-President, Medical Affairs and Clinical Research. Further, Mr Sundaram pointed out that a decision needed to be taken on bringing the third phase of the vaccine trails into India, following which documents would be submitted to the local drug authorities. Given that trails on children are not allowed in the country, he said, that specific permission would have to be sought.
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