In News:

• The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has recently licensed its indigenous multi-stage malaria vaccine, AdFalciVax, to five Indian pharmaceutical companies — Indian Immunologicals Limited, Techinvention Lifecare Private Limited, Panacea Biotec Limited, Biological E Limited, and Zydus Lifesciences.
• The technology transfer follows an Expression of Interest (EoI) process launched in July 2025, inviting eligible organisations to commercialise the vaccine.

About AdFalciVax

AdFalciVax is India’s first recombinant multi-stage malaria vaccine, developed by the Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC), Bhubaneswar, under ICMR. It is specifically designed to tackle Plasmodium falciparum, the most lethal malaria parasite responsible for high morbidity and mortality across tropical regions.

Key Features

• Dual-purpose protection: Prevents Plasmodium falciparum infection in individuals and reduces community-level transmission.
• Pre-bloodstream targeting: Stops the parasite before it reaches the bloodstream, breaking the infection cycle.
• Novel technology: Uses Lactococcus lactis, a genetically engineered food-grade bacterial host, as its delivery system.
• Dual-antigen approach:
  • PfCSP (Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein) – prevents initial infection.
  • Pfs230 and Pfs48/45 fusion proteins – block parasite transmission from humans to mosquitoes.
• Validated research: Pre-clinical trials conducted in collaboration with ICMR–National Institute of Malaria Research (NIMR) and the National Institute of Immunology (NII), New Delhi, supported by the Department of Biotechnology.

Licensing and Technology Transfer

The licences are granted on a non-exclusive basis, enabling multiple companies to develop, manufacture, and commercialise the vaccine simultaneously. This model is expected to:

• Accelerate vaccine production and reduce costs.
• Ensure wide accessibility within India and potentially in malaria-endemic regions abroad.
• Strengthen India’s position in vaccine innovation and biotechnology.

Significance

• Public health impact: With malaria still a major global health challenge, AdFalciVax offers a potential breakthrough in reducing disease burden.
• Strategic milestone: Marks India’s entry into the development of advanced recombinant vaccines targeting multi-stage pathogens.
• Global relevance: Supports the World Health Organization’s (WHO) goal of reducing malaria cases and deaths by at least 90% by 2030 under the Global Technical Strategy for Malaria.