The agreement grants SII a non-exclusive, worldwide licence to develop R78C as part of a next-generation multi-stage malaria vaccine - a major step designed to target the parasite at multiple points in its lifecycle, with the aim of improving efficacy and durability of protection. The collaboration builds on a longstanding association between Oxford and Serum Institute of India, including the 2019 licence for the R21 pre-erythrocytic stage vaccine and subsequent work to further incorporate the RH5.1 blood-stage vaccine candidate.
The licence will enable SII to support the continued development, large-scale manufacture, and potential future commercialisation of the multi-stage vaccine candidate, helping to accelerate its progression into clinical evaluation.
Professor Simon Draper FMedSci, Professor of Vaccinology and Translational Medicine in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Oxford, whose lab developed the RH5.1 and R78C blood-stage vaccine candidates, said: 'This agreement marks an important milestone in our efforts to develop a highly effective multi-stage malaria vaccine. By combining multiple antigens that target different stages of the parasite lifecycle, we aim to achieve stronger and longer-lasting protection. Our collaboration with the Serum Institute of India is central to ensuring that, if successful, these vaccines can be manufactured at scale and made accessible to populations most in need.'
Read the full story on the University of Oxford website.