India Creates History! First Indigenous Malaria Vaccine ‘Adfalsivax’ Promises to Stop Dengue and Malaria Spread
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): In a breakthrough for public health, Indian scientists have successfully developed the country’s first homegrown malaria vaccine, offering new hope in the fight against mosquito-borne diseases like malaria and dengue. Named ‘Adfalsivax’, this vaccine is designed not only to prevent malaria infection but also to curb its spread effectively.
The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) announced the completion of the vaccine’s discovery, with plans already underway to collaborate with private companies for large-scale production. The vaccine has been developed through joint efforts of ICMR and the Regional Medical Research Centre in Bhubaneswar.
ICMR Director General Dr. Rajiv Bahl highlighted that currently available malaria vaccines cost around ₹800 per dose and offer only 33–67% effectiveness. In contrast, this indigenous vaccine promises better accessibility and impact. For now, it has undergone pre-clinical validation, conducted in collaboration with the National Malaria Research Institute and the National Institute of Immunology in New Delhi. If successful in further trials, Adfalsivax could revolutionize India’s fight against malaria, bringing the country closer to eradicating this life-threatening disease.