Bharat Biotech, Gavi and UNICEF agree to cut price of 'Mosqivac' (RTS,S/AS01) malaria vaccine by about 40%

25 October 2026 · English Health

Topics: Science, Environment & Health · 25 October 2026 Current Affairs (UPSC / TNPSC / SSC / RRB)

News

Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech announced on 23 Oct 2026 an agreement with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and UNICEF to cut the price of RTS,S/AS01 – the world's first malaria vaccine, which it makes under the name 'Mosqivac' (GSK's brand is 'Mosquirix') – by about 40%, to €5.50 per dose. The price applies from early 2027, saving about US$50 million in 2027–29 and helping protect about one million more children. UNICEF executes the deal and Gavi backs it financially.

Key facts

Background

• Science: malaria is caused by the single-celled parasite Plasmodium (falciparum, vivax, malariae, ovale, knowlesi) and spread by the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito. Both RTS,S and R21 target the circumsporozoite protein of the deadliest species, Plasmodium falciparum. Urban malaria is spread by Anopheles stephensi.
• History: in 1880 Alphonse Laveran found the malaria parasite in human blood (Nobel 1907). Sir Ronald Ross found it in the mosquito's gut at Secunderabad on 20 Aug 1897 – hence World Mosquito Day on 20 Aug; Ross won the 1902 Nobel in Medicine. World Malaria Day is 25 April.
• Vaccines: WHO recommended RTS,S in Oct 2021 (piloted in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi from 2019); the second vaccine, R21/Matrix-M (University of Oxford – Serum Institute of India, Pune), was recommended in Oct 2023. Globally, 2024 saw about 282 million malaria cases and 610,000 deaths, mostly in Africa.
• India: the National Framework for Malaria Elimination (NFME) 2016–2030 targets elimination by 2030; States are grouped as Category 0 (prevention of re-establishment), 1 (elimination phase – API<1), 2 (pre-elimination) and 3 (intensified control). It is run by the National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC). Bharat Biotech also makes Covaxin (with ICMR-NIV) and Rotavac.

Tamil Nadu link: in NCVBDC's malaria monthly monitoring report (Oct 2025), Tamil Nadu is listed among 'Category 1' (elimination phase – Annual Parasite Incidence below 1) States. In cities like Chennai, Anopheles stephensi breeding in construction sites and overhead tanks spreads urban malaria.

Source: The Federal, Siasat, The News Mill (23 Oct 2026); Neo Science Hub; GSK press release (25 Jun 2025); NCVBDC MMIS report (Oct 2025)

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