Industrial Scale Production of R21/Matrix-M Malaria Vaccine for Sub-Saharan Africa / Stubborn Enemy: The Persistence of Malaria in Sub-Saharan Africa

Preventable and treatable diseases still annually kill millions worldwide. Children under five years old are especially vulnerable. Endemic malaria persists in tropical and subtropical regions, and especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa bears the greatest burden of global malaria deaths. Despite billions in global spending against malaria, elimination goals set by the World Health Organization have not been met. Interruptions by COVID-19, inaccessibility of healthcare and poor allocation of resources are major contributors to the setbacks in progress. The Oxford R21 malaria vaccine meets the World Health Organization’s 2020 75 percent efficacy goal. Given the vaccine’s early success in clinical trials, the project team has developed a proposed process plant to manufacture the R21 virus-like particle responsible for the immune response against malaria. The process design incorporates upstream fermentation, downstream purification, formulation and vial filling. The R21 vaccine includes Matrix-M adjuvant by Novavax. Affordable and efficient production of this vaccine may contribute to the prevention of malaria wherever it is still endemic.