The agreement grants SII a non-exclusive, worldwide licence to develop R78C as part of a next-generation multi-stage malaria vaccine - a major step designed to target the parasite at multiple points in its lifecycle, with the aim of improving efficacy and durability of protection. The collaboration builds on a longstanding association between Oxford and Serum Institute of India, including the 2019 licence for the R21 pre-erythrocytic stage vaccine and subsequent work to further incorporate the RH5.1 blood-stage vaccine candidate.
The licence will enable SII to support the continued development, large-scale manufacture, and potential future commercialisation of the multi-stage vaccine candidate, helping to accelerate its progression into clinical evaluation.
Professor Simon Draper FMedSci, Professor of Vaccinology and Translational Medicine in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Oxford, whose lab developed the RH5.1 and R78C blood-stage vaccine candidates, said, “This agreement marks an important milestone in our efforts to develop a highly effective multi-stage malaria vaccine. By combining multiple antigens that target different stages of the parasite lifecycle, we aim to achieve stronger and longer-lasting protection. Our collaboration with the Serum Institute of India is central to ensuring that, if successful, these vaccines can be manufactured at scale and made accessible to populations most in need.”
Dr. Umesh Shaligram, Executive Director, Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd., said, “Malaria prevention continues to demand sustained scientific innovation, especially as efforts move towards vaccines that can target the parasite at different stages of its lifecycle. At SII, we have consistently focused on advancing such approaches with the aim of making them effective and accessible. This agreement with the University of Oxford to develop R78C builds on our ongoing collaboration and supports the continued development of next-generation malaria vaccine candidates.”
Dr Matthew Carpenter, Deputy Head of Licensing and Ventures for Life Sciences, said: “We are proud to continue supporting the University’s malaria vaccine programme through this expanded partnership with the Serum Institute of India. This licensing agreement represents an important milestone in the development of a multi-stage malaria vaccine, enabling the integration of the R78C candidate alongside existing components. It highlights how Oxford’s knowledge and research can be translated into impactful global health solutions, bringing together scientific innovation and manufacturing expertise to accelerate the development of vaccines for those most affected by malaria.”
This agreement forms part of a broader ecosystem of collaborations supporting the development of novel malaria vaccines. In parallel, SIIPL has entered into a related agreement with ExpreS2ion to secure access to its proprietary ExpreS2 expression platform, which has been used in the clinical-stage production of RH5.1 and R78C vaccine components.
The Oxford–Serum collaboration has consistently focused on enabling equitable access to vaccines for low- and middle-income countries. By leveraging SIIPL’s global manufacturing capabilities, the collaboration aims to ensure that successful malaria vaccine candidates can be produced at scale and supplied affordably to endemic regions.
Malaria remains a major global health challenge, with hundreds of millions of cases reported annually, predominantly affecting children in sub-Saharan Africa. The development of more effective vaccines is widely recognised as a critical component of long-term malaria control and eradication strategies.