Bharat Biotech has entered into a pricing agreement with Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) to make the RTS,S/AS01 malaria vaccine more affordable. Developed by GSK, the vaccine is manufactured by Bharat Biotech under the brand name Mosqivac.

Under the agreement, UNICEF will implement a price reduction of approximately 40 percent, supported financially by GAVI. The initiative is projected to save around USD 50 million for childhood immunisation programs between 2027 and 2029, potentially allowing up to 1 million additional children to receive the complete 4-dose vaccination course.

Supported by an advance payment through the International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm), the arrangement will lower the vaccine price to EUR 5.50 per dose, compared with the current price. The revised price is expected to come into effect by early 2027. The agreement is also intended to support a sustainable and competitive market for malaria vaccines.

RTS,S/AS01 was developed by GSK, PATH and their partners, and became the first malaria vaccine recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2021. Since then, GSK and Bharat Biotech have invested USD 200 million in manufacturing infrastructure, product development and technology transfer to increase production capacity and strengthen supply while reducing costs.

Dr. Krishna Ella, Executive Chairman, Bharat Biotech, said that the GAVI-UNICEF agreement represents an important step toward expanding malaria vaccination. He noted that the company has made substantial investments to increase production, enhance manufacturing capabilities and support the long-term affordability and availability of malaria vaccines. He also emphasised the importance of accelerating vaccine introductions in eligible countries so that more children and vulnerable communities can benefit.

Demand for malaria vaccines has surpassed initial expectations since rollout began in 2024. UNICEF has procured and delivered over 74 million doses to date. The GAVI-supported malaria vaccination program has become part of routine immunisation in 25 African countries, which together account for more than 70 percent of the global malaria burden.

Dr. Harmony P Garges, Chief Global Health Officer, GSK, highlighted the importance of collaboration in securing equitable access to the vaccine. She said that the agreement builds on investments made by GSK and Bharat Biotech to support reliable, long-term supply, particularly as international health funding faces increasing pressure.

Expanding access to affordable vaccines remains a priority as international aid funding declines. GAVI aims to support the vaccination of an additional 50 million children against malaria by 2030, making sustainable supply and lower prices increasingly important.

Malaria continues to pose a major global health challenge, claiming nearly half a million lives annually, with approximately 1 child dying from the disease every minute. In 2024, an estimated 282 million malaria cases and 610,000 deaths were recorded worldwide. Africa accounted for up to 95 percent of cases and deaths, while children under 5 years of age represented around 74 percent of malaria deaths.

A complete 4-dose course of RTS,S/AS01 can reduce malaria cases by approximately 75 percent when administered seasonally in areas with highly seasonal transmission. Vaccination remains one part of a broader malaria-control strategy that also includes insecticide-treated bed nets, repellents, spatial emanators, other vector-control measures, preventive medicines, prompt diagnosis and timely treatment.

The need for effective prevention is expected to remain significant as rising temperatures may alter malaria transmission patterns and expose new areas to the disease. Flooding and other extreme weather events can also displace communities, damage infrastructure and disrupt healthcare services, further complicating malaria prevention and control.