GlaxoSmithKline reports positive malaria vaccine trial data

GlaxoSmithKline has reported data from a clinical trial of its malaria vaccine candidate RTS,S that will support its forthcoming European regulatory application for the product.

The drug – which is the most clinically advanced malaria vaccine candidate currently in development – was trialled among more than 150,000 infants and young children, who were assessed over 18 months of follow-up.

RTS,S was shown to almost halve the number of malaria cases in young children and to reduce malaria cases in infants by around one-quarter.

A total of 11 African research centres in seven countries were involved in this trial, the positive results from which have prompted the manufacturer to commit to filing for European Medicines Agency approval of the vaccine in 2014.

Sir Andrew Witty, chief executive officer of GlaxoSmithKline, said: "We are grateful to the scientists across Africa and GlaxoSmithKline and to our partners who have worked tirelessly for almost 30 years to bring us to this point."

This comes after the firm also recently filed for European regulatory approval of its drug Arzerra as a first-line therapy for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.