Current Context: The Union government has licensed five Indian firms to manufacture and commercialise AdFalciVax, India’s first indigenous multi-stage malaria vaccine, developed by ICMR.

ABOUT ADFALCIVAX

• Type: Recombinant chimeric multi-stage vaccine
• Target: Blocks infection and transmission of Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest malaria parasite
• Developed by: ICMR–RMRC Bhubaneswar with support from ICMR–NIMR (Delhi) and NII (Delhi)

SIGNIFICANCE

• India bears 4% of global malaria cases and 66% of Southeast Asia’s burden
• Supports Atmanirbhar Bharat in health R&D
• Reduces dependence on imported vaccines
• Supports India’s Malaria Elimination Goal 2030