Context: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is developing AdFalciVax, India’s first indigenous two-stage vaccine against Plasmodium falciparum, using an innovative multistage antigen design.

About AdFalciVax

• Type:
  Recombinant, chimeric malaria vaccine candidate.
• Target:
  Designed to protect against Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest malaria parasite.
• Development Agencies:
  Jointly developed by:
  • ICMR
  • RMRC-Bhubaneswar
  • NIMR
  • DBT-National Institute of Immunology (DBT-NII)
• Production Platform:
  Uses Lactococcus lactis – a food-grade, safe bacterium – enabling low-cost, scalable vaccine production.

Key Features

• Dual Protection:
  Targets two life-cycle stages:
  • Pre-erythrocytic stage (liver stage): Prevents infection.
  • Sexual stage (mosquito stage): Blocks transmission.
• Room Temperature Stability:
  Effective for over 9 months without refrigeration – suitable for tropical regions.
• Broader Immune Response:
  Combines multiple antigens to reduce immune escape and enhance long-term immunity.
• Open Licensing Model:
  ICMR plans non-exclusive licensing to encourage widespread domestic and global manufacturing.

Significance

• Strengthens India’s vaccine innovation ecosystem.
• Supports the Malaria Elimination Roadmap (target: 2030).
• Aligned with Make in India and public health goals.
• Potential to reduce malaria mortality, especially in high-risk tribal and endemic zones.