Effective New Malaria Vaccine Offers Hope for Breakthrough Cure
9th August 2013
An experimental malaria vaccine called PfSPZ is showing promise after it was found to have blocked the disease in early clinical trials, according to a new study published by Science magazine on Thursday. Researchers are calling the vaccine a breakthrough while also cautioning that PfSPZ isn’t ready for prime time just yet. The vaccine, which is made using a weakened form of the disease, was administered in varying doses to a group of more than three dozen volunteers. Six people, each of whom were given a full five doses of the vaccine, were unable to contract malaria when exposed to the disease, the study says. This is the first time any vaccine has achieved 100% effectiveness in any trial, researchers report.