German biotech company BioNTech has announced a project aimed at creating a highly efficacious vaccine to help eradicate malaria, while expanding vaccine production capacity across Africa.

BioNTech will develop a first-generation mRNA vaccine using a known antigen, the CSP protein, the clinical trial for which is expected to start at the end of 2022.

The company will also run a dedicated antigen discovery process to potentially identify new antigens, which could see a second-generation vaccine with higher efficacy.

The company has pledged to manufacture the potential vaccine in African facilities – either with licensed production partners or on its own.

BioNTech plans to use revenues from the Covid-19 vaccine to develop its malaria vaccine candidates and bring them to the first phase of clinical trials. 

BioNTech, which co-developed the first mRNA-based Covid-19 vaccine with its partner Pfizer, has benefited from two European Investment Bank (EIB) loans under the Investment Plan for Europe for its cancer and Covid-19 research. 

The EIB and the European Commission support companies that aim to eradicate malaria through the joint InnovFin Infectious Diseases Finance Facility backed by Horizon 2020, the European Union's (EU's) research and innovation programme.

EIB investment will be used for projects that enter late-stage clinical development, which aims to show efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of a medical product. 

“Malaria is a tricky disease to vaccinate against – this is why it takes a lot of courage and dedication to embark on the endeavour BioNTech just committed to. Finding an efficient vaccine is the only way to eradicate one of the biggest causes of death in children in less developed countries. If mRNA can revolutionise malaria vaccine development as well, the EU bank would be proud to support this mission,” said EIB president Werner Hoyer.

BioNTech CEO and co-founder Uğur Şahin said the company has a duty to use its technology to address malaria and develop sustainable solutions for Africa.

“Setting up infrastructure could help to address various diseases using this disruptive technology. Building on our mRNA technology and the expertise gained during the pandemic, our efforts will include substantial investments in vaccine development as well as transferring manufacturing expertise to sites on the African continent,” he said.

BioNTech will co-locate potential African facilities with World Health Organization technology hubs that are being developed to strengthen the continent’s capacity to manufacture vaccines.