Malaria Vaccine Candidate has Promising Safety, Tolerability Profile in Infants

The first study to test GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK) investigational RTS,S/AS02 malaria vaccine in African infants serves as the first proof of concept in this population that the vaccine has a promising safety and tolerability profile and reduces malaria parasite infection and clinical illness due to malaria, according to a paper published today online in The Lancet.

The primary objective of the study was to assess whether RTS,S could be safely administered to the age group most vulnerable to severe disease and death from malaria. For the study, 214 infants between 10 and 18 weeks of age were enrolled. The vaccine candidate's safety and reactogenicity profiles were similar to those observed with standard EPI vaccines given to infants, including comparable local pain and swelling.

To read the full press release, visit the GlaxoSmithKline web site.