Happy New Year and all our best wishes for a successful 2009 to all our readers - it is a great pleasure to introduce our first newsletter of 2009 with some highlights from the malaria vaccine front. STI is very pleased and proud to be part of a few major steps in malaria vaccine development recently completed and ranging from the design of a virosome-based approach to the clinical trials in endemic areas. The current newsletter presents the flashes from the recent work where we were involved and indicates the way forward.

Given the formidable task of vaccine development, it is clear that no single institution can undertake the whole R&D efforts. We are happy to be able to contribute to major vaccine development platforms, mainly led by Malaria Vaccine Initiative (MVI) and supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. These platforms bring together academic institutions, industrial partners, WHO, national research authorities, regulatory authorities and funders and allow an effective R&D process, hopefully leading to the registration of the world's most advanced malaria vaccine, RTS,S, in 2011.

The pace towards a malaria vaccine to be used for those most in need has now quickened owing to scientific achievements, the leadership of African research centers and also to the great international commitment and fine spirit of collaboration. While appreciating these developments of and the momentum created for a malaria vaccine, we should not forget that successful malaria control and elimination in a specific setting will still and always require an integrated approach with early diagnosis and treatment, the use of insecticide treated nets or materials and indoor residual spraying or larval control depending on the ecological situation being the main cornerstones. A malaria vaccine will substantially strengthen the integrated approach but not replace it.

I wish you an enjoyable reading and we look forward to receiving your questions and comments.

Prof. Marcel Tanner

 

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