Unite against malaria

Drugs giant GlaxoSmithKline has joined forces with US non-profit organisation
PATH (Program for Appropriate Technology in Health) to develop its malaria
vaccine. GSK’s vaccine was 70 per cent effective in protecting people against
malaria in preliminary trials—the best result for any malaria vaccine so
far. PATH will pay GSK $6.7 million to develop it further for use in
young children, who are at highest risk of dying from malaria. GSK hopes to have
a vaccine by 2008, which it plans to distribute in Africa and other endemic
areas “at a very reasonable price”.