European Vaccine Initiative: lessons from developing malaria vaccines

Expert Rev Vaccines. 2011 Dec;10(12):1697-708. doi: 10.1586/erv.11.158.

Abstract

For over 10 years, the European Vaccine Initiative (EVI; European Malaria Vaccine Initiative until 2009) has contributed to the development of 24 malaria candidate vaccine antigens with 13 vaccine candidates being advanced into Phase I clinical trials, two of which have been transitioned for further clinical development in sub-Saharan Africa. Since its inception the EVI organization has operated as a funding agency, but with a clear service-oriented strategy. The scientific successes and difficulties encountered during these years and how these efforts have led to standardization and harmonization in vaccine development through large-scale European consortia are discussed. In the future, the EVI will remain instrumental in the pharmaceutical and clinical development of vaccines against 'diseases of poverty' with a continued focus on malaria. EVI will continue to focus on funding and managing preclinical evaluation up to Phase I/II clinical trials and strengthening the vaccine-development infrastructure in Europe, albeit with a global orientation.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic / standards
  • Antigens, Viral / immunology
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Europe
  • Humans
  • Immunization Programs / economics
  • Immunization Programs / organization & administration
  • International Cooperation
  • Malaria / immunology
  • Malaria / prevention & control*
  • Malaria / virology
  • Malaria Vaccines / economics*
  • Malaria Vaccines / immunology
  • Malaria Vaccines / standards
  • Translational Research, Biomedical / economics*
  • Translational Research, Biomedical / organization & administration
  • Vaccines, Subunit / immunology

Substances

  • Adjuvants, Immunologic
  • Antigens, Viral
  • Malaria Vaccines
  • Vaccines, Subunit