New Delhi, Sep 25 || A new malaria monoclonal antibody is safe, well-tolerated, and can elicit protection in people with no prior exposure to the malaria-causing parasite, according to a study.
The phase 1 randomised controlled trial of the experimental monoclonal antibody MAM01, published in the journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases, showed that of the three malaria-naive adults given the highest study dose, none had parasites in their bloodstream up to 26 weeks later.
"Malaria-naive" refers to an individual who has never been exposed to the malaria parasite and therefore has no natural immunity to the disease.
“Although new vaccines are available, protective efficacy is not optimum. Monoclonal antibodies targeting the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein have the potential to simplify prevention,” said corresponding author Prof Kirsten E Lyke, Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, at the University of Maryland.