Malaria Fight: Bharat Biotech Slashes Vaccine Price to Protect 1 Million More Children
Bharat Biotech, Gavi, and UNICEF announce equitable malaria vaccine pricing to protect 1 million more children and save $50 million.
In a massive boost to global public health, Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) has announced equitable malaria vaccine pricing in collaboration with UNICEF and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. This strategic move is set to significantly lower the cost of the world’s first malaria vaccine, RTS, S/AS01, ensuring that life-saving immunization reaches the most vulnerable populations across the globe.
A 40% Price Drop to Save Millions
The agreement, which is financially backed by Gavi and executed by UNICEF, will reduce the price of the vaccine by approximately 40 per cent. Under this new arrangement, the cost per dose will drop to EUR 5.50. This price reduction is expected to take effect by early 2027.
The financial implications of this deal are substantial. It is estimated that the price cut will generate roughly US$50 million in savings for child immunization programs between 2027 and 2029. More importantly, these savings will allow the full four-dose course of the vaccine to reach up to one million additional children who would otherwise have remained unprotected.
The transition to this lower pricing model was made possible through an advance payment provided by the International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm), reflecting a global effort to create a more sustainable and competitive market for malaria vaccines.
The Journey of Mosqivac®️
Originally developed by GSK, PATH, and other partners, RTS, S/AS01 was the first malaria vaccine ever recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2021. Bharat Biotech now manufactures the vaccine under the brand name Mosqivac®️.
To make this expansion possible, GSK and Bharat Biotech have invested $200 million into:
- New, higher-output manufacturing facilities.
- Advanced product development.
- Comprehensive technology transfer to lower production costs and strengthen the global supply chain.
"The Gavi–UNICEF deal is a far-reaching commitment to expand malaria vaccination and... can help ensure one million more children are protected from malaria," stated Dr. Krishna Ella, Executive Chairman of Bharat Biotech International.
The Urgent Need: A Race Against Time
The urgency of this pricing agreement is underscored by the devastating impact of malaria. Statistics reveal a grim reality: one child dies from malaria every single minute, totaling nearly half a million deaths annually.
In 2024 alone, there were an estimated 282 million malaria cases and 610,000 deaths worldwide. The burden is disproportionately felt in Africa, which accounts for up to 95 per cent of all cases and deaths. Alarmingly, around 74 per cent of deaths in the African region occur among children under the age of five.
Impact and Reach
The RTS, S/AS01 vaccine is a powerful tool in this fight. When administered as a full four-dose course seasonally in high-transmission areas, it reduces malaria cases by approximately 75 per cent.
Since the rollout began in 2024, demand has soared beyond initial forecasts, with UNICEF already procuring and delivering over 74 million doses. Currently, the Gavi-funded program is integrated into routine immunization in 25 African countries, which together bear more than 70 per cent of the global malaria burden.
Looking Toward 2030
As international aid funding faces an unprecedented decline, the collaboration between GSK, Bharat Biotech, Gavi, and UNICEF becomes critical. The ultimate goal is to vaccinate 50 million more children against malaria by 2030.
Dr. Harmony P Garges, GSK’s Chief Global Health Officer, emphasized that close collaboration across the global health landscape is the only way to deliver real impact for children most at risk, especially as rising temperatures and flooding alter transmission patterns and push malaria into new, previously unaffected areas.