Bharat Biotech, GSK to halve malaria vaccine price to less than $5 per dose

Malaria vaccine

Bharat Biotech International Ltd and GSK plc on Wednesday announced a commitment to significantly reduce the price of the world's first malaria vaccine, RTS,S, to less than $5 per dose by 2028, more than halving its current cost.

This price reduction is a joint pledge to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, for its 2026-2030 replenishment phase.

The price cut is attributed to process improvements, expanded production capacity, cost-effective manufacturing, and minimal profit margins, according to the companies. Bharat Biotech has invested over $200 million in new manufacturing facilities and technology transfers, while GSK has also made substantial investments in production capacity and efficiency. The phased price reduction begins immediately and will be fully realized by 2028 when the production transfer between the two companies is complete.

Bharat Biotech has entered into partnership in 2021 to produce part of the malaria vaccine that has been developed by British drugmaker GSK, the company has invested $200 million in building manufacturing capacities for the vaccine.

RTS,S is a recombinant protein-based vaccine developed to prevent malaria in children, specifically targeting Plasmodium falciparum, the most deadly malaria parasite. WHO recommends a four-dose schedule of RTS,S/AS01 for children from 5 months of age in areas with moderate to high malaria transmission, with optional five-dose scheduling for areas with highly seasonal transmission.

Dr. Krishna Ella, Executive Chairman of Bharat Biotech, emphasized that the pledge is a commitment to global equity, innovation, and collaboration, aiming to change the course of malaria for millions of children. Thomas Breuer, Chief Global Health Officer at GSK, highlighted the collaboration with Bharat Biotech and partners as a key milestone in sustainably addressing malaria.

The RTS,S vaccine has shown promising results in real-world settings. A WHO evaluation of its implementation in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi, where over 2 million children received the vaccine, reported a 13% reduction in all-cause mortality and a 22% reduction in hospitalizations for severe malaria among age-eligible children between 2019 and 2023. When administered seasonally alongside chemoprevention, WHO-recommended malaria vaccines have been shown to prevent approximately 75% of malaria episodes.

Malaria claims 600,000 lives annually, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa.

With Gavi's support, 12 endemic countries in Africa are expected to introduce RTS,S through routine immunization programs by the end of 2025. Dr. Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, said the agency aims to protect at least 50 million more children across Africa by the end of 2030. Dr. Kwaku Poku Asante, Director of the Kintampo Health Research Centre, called the long-term price reduction a pivotal moment, ensuring sustained affordability for children in the most affected communities.

Bharat Biotech, headquartered in Hyderabad, India, focuses on affordable vaccines and biotherapeutics, with over 145 global patents and a portfolio of more than 19 vaccines. The company has delivered over 9 billion vaccine doses worldwide and developed vaccines for various diseases, including indigenous COVID-19 vaccines.