Feasibility studies

New initiatives aim to combine several approaches to developing effective malaria vaccines

MVI is working with a range of partners to evaluate antigens and delivery systems using specialized assays and animal models. These preclinical feasibility studies represent the early stages in vaccine development. Feasibility studies are short (typically 6 to 18 months) and require low levels of investment. Successful outcomes of some of these programs will lead to their advancement to translational programs. By supporting these studies, MVI ensures that any projects that may transition into the portfolio are effectively aligned with our long-term strategic goals.

Some feasibility studies are part of existing and ongoing research collaborations with key partners. A few are represented below.

Graphic showing 4 shaded ovals in flower formation: antigens, platforms, evaluation technologies, and adjuvants/formulations. The ovals overlap in the center of the graphic. The area of overlap is labeled, "at least 80% efficacious vaccine."

MVI expects that our vaccine portfolio and our efforts to accelerate development of malaria vaccines will benefit from the following key collaborations:

Adjuvants/formulations

Antigens

Evaluation technologies

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Type of project: Evaluation technologies.

Description: Develop laboratory tests to predict the level of safety and activity of vaccine candidates based on live, attenuated (weakened) malaria parasites. Specifically, FDA will:

  • Develop assays that address purity of the attenuated vaccine preparation as well as assays that address the consistency of the sporozoites in each batch of vaccine.
  • Develop biomarkers that differentiate between attenuated and fully active sporozoites, and measure attenuation based on unique expression of genes in early- and late-stage parasite development in liver cells.
  • Develop biological assays that can predict the effect of freezing on biological activity of the attenuated sporozoite vaccines.

Project initiation: June 2008.

Length of project: 3 years.

Infectious Disease Research Institute (IDRI)

Type of project: Adjuvants/formulations.

Description: The scope of the agreement includes the following:

  • Application of IDRI’s portfolio of adjuvants to MVI’s portfolio of antigens.
  • IDRI’s support to MVI in its survey of available adjuvants.
  • Application of IDRI’s portfolio of adjuvants to new malaria vaccine candidates entering MVI’s portfolio.
  • Application of IDRI’s malaria antigen discovery program to MVI’s portfolio of antigens.
  • Development and use of T-cell assays.

Project initiation: August 2007.

Length of project: 5 years.

Read project fact sheet (977 KB PDF)

Seattle Biomedical Research Institute (SBRI)

Type of project: Antigen discovery and evaluation technologies.

Description: The scope of the agreement includes:

  • A genetically attenuated parasite vaccine program.
  • A pre-erythrocytic vaccine antigen discovery program; malaria biomarker discovery program.
  • Evaluation of malaria interventions via human challenge capacity model.

Project initiation: October 2007.

Length of project: 5 years.

Read project fact sheet (511 KB PDF)

Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI)

Type of project: Antigen discovery.

Description: Collaborate on malaria-related projects to further the mutual objectives of MVI and WEHI. First project will focus on AMA-1 and includes the following:

  • Produce different AMA-1 variants as recombinant proteins.
  • Generate a panel of transgenic P. falciparum lines expressing different AMA-1 variants.
  • Evaluate antigenic diversity of AMA-1.
  • Evaluate associations between antibodies to specific variants and protection from malaria.
  • Develop high-throughput functional assays for measuring AMA-1 specific inhibitory antibodies.

Project initiation: January 2008.

Length of project: 5 years.

Read project fact sheet (978 KB PDF)