The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), based in New Delhi, has issued a call for Expressions of Interest (EoI) from eligible organizations, companies, and manufacturers to undertake the Transfer of Technology for the commercial production of a recombinant chimeric multi-stage malaria vaccine, AdFalciVax, designed to protect against Plasmodium falciparum infection. The initiative aims to advance the fight against malaria by reducing individual infection rates and limiting community-level transmission. The deadline for submission is August 17.
The proposed collaboration seeks to facilitate the large-scale commercialisation of this indigenous vaccine, with ICMR offering technical expertise and scientific support. This includes assistance in study planning, protocol development, data analysis, evaluation of outcomes, and assessments related to safety, efficacy, and product enhancement—contingent upon mutual agreement with the selected partner.
Although ICMR will not bear any financial responsibility unless explicitly agreed upon, its affiliated institutes will support and facilitate research and development (R&D), clinical trials, and other collaborative efforts within India. The Council will also aid in technology development and validation wherever necessary.
The vaccine technology was developed by ICMR–Regional Medical Research Centre, Bhubaneswar (ICMR-RMRCBB), one of the four ICMR institutes involved in this initiative. The vaccine is produced using Lactococcus lactis, a non-pathogenic bacterium, to express the recombinant chimeric antigens. Pre-clinical validation of the vaccine was carried out in collaboration with ICMR–National Institute of Malaria Research (ICMR-NIMR) and the National Institute of Immunology (NII), New Delhi—an autonomous body under the Department of Biotechnology.
This EoI marks a significant step in India’s efforts to combat malaria through innovative indigenous solutions, fostering public-private partnerships to bring promising technologies from lab to market.