HEALTH NEWS: GSK Malaria Vaccine could be in use by 2017...

The world's first malaria vaccine could be available in as little as three years after British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline's candidate treatment passed a major testing milestone.

GSK is ready to take the first step in getting the vaccine to market after promising trial results showing it was effective in protecting children and babies from malaria for up to 18 months.

The pharmaceuticals giant plans to submit the vaccine to EU regulators next year, which means, if approved, it could be widely available by 2016.

The World Health Organisation has already indicated that a policy recommendation for the vaccine, the most advanced treatment anywhere in the world by at least 10 years, could be made by 2015 if it clears regulatory hurdles.

GSK scientists have spent nearly three decades developing a vaccine against malaria, one of the world's deadliest diseases.

The vaccine has faced a number of setbacks during final-stage testing, but GSK and its partners believe the treatment has proven effective enough to make a "significant impact" on the health of millions of young children in Africa.

The latest results, unveiled today, show that the vaccine nearly halves the number of malaria cases in children between five and 17 months old for at least 18 months following the initial shot.

Earlier results, released in March, showed that the effectiveness of the vaccine wanes over time, protecting only 16.8pc of children for as long as four years. Sir Andrew Witty, chief executive of GSK, said: "While we have seen some decline in vaccine efficacy over time, the sheer number of children affected by malaria means that the number of cases of the disease the vaccine can help prevent is impressive."

Malaria experts agree that the vaccine has proven itself to be an effective weapon against malaria, but warn that unless it is provided cheaply enough, some low-income countries, dependent on aid from NGOs and charitable foundations, could be prevented from accessing it. GSK is running its malaria programme as a non-profit operation, but has not yet disclosed how much it will cost to make the vaccine.

Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN