Project to Develop Malaria Vaccine Announced

The Swiss drug manufacturing firm Hoffmann-La Roche on Wednesday announced a project with New York University to develop a vaccine against malaria, which threatens 600 million people around the world.

The firm said that NYU scientists Ruth and Victor Nussenzweig have isolated the antigens of certain malaria-causing parasites, and a trial vaccine has shown promise in animal experiments.

“The first tests to establish whether the trial vaccine elicits a protective immune response in volunteers are planned for the spring of 1986,” the company said, adding that joint research will also continue on a broad-spectrum multiple vaccine.