The world’s first vaccine against malaria has been developed.
The drug- named RTS, S or Mosquirix has been given the green light by European drugs regulators, The Guardian reports.
Regulators have recommended that the drug be licensed for use on children who are at high risk of contracting the disease in Africa.
Drug maker giant – GlaxoSmithKline developed the vaccine in partnership with the PATH Malaria Vaccine Initiative.
Scientists have worked on developing the vaccine for decades.
Researchers at GlaxoSmithKline have been working on the project for 30 years.
Malaria is the biggest cause of high mortality rates in Sub-Saharan’ Africa.
More than 80 percent of malaria deaths are in children under the age of five.
While it may not be an absolute means to wipe out malaria, researchers hope that the vaccine, alongside other currently available measures such as sleeping under mosquito nets, will go a long way into reducing the high mortality rate associated with the disease.
