Development of monoclonal antibody-mediated interventions to combat malaria

As a highly effective malaria vaccine is still not available, alternative strategies for the global malaria control efforts are urgently needed. Giving monoclonal antibodies (mAb) that can block parasite infection and transmission to susceptible populations in passive immunization could be a viable option. If passive immunization with mAbs or mAb-based interventions against malaria demonstrates promising clinical feasibility, it could be incorporated into public health program strategies, such as for seasonal malaria prophylaxis, prophylaxis for pregnant women or for migrant workers entering malaria endemic areas, or outbreak control, thus enhancing global malaria control and elimination efforts. For that, innovations are sought to identify and engineer such mAbs to make them more efficacious at lower doses, in order to be affordable to more people in the developing world. In this SBIR, the proposal is to generate afucosylated mAb with nanoparticle-based delivery system for enhanced effector functions. It is anticipated that such novel forms of mAb will be more efficacious because of higher valency and increased affinity to the Fc receptors. An innovative format of mAb-vaccine hybrid is also proposed to “kill two birds with one stone”. It is anticipated that such new mAb-derivatives will change the landscape of malaria prevention and treatment.

Project details

Vaccines (Immune Correlates)

Jul 2022 — Dec 2022

$300,000

United States