The price of the world’s first malaria vaccine, RTS,S, will be reduced by more than half — to less than $5 per dose in endemic countries by 2028, according to a commitment by drugmakers Bharat Biotech and GSK on Wednesday.
There will be a “phased” reduction in price that is fully realized by 2028, which is when the technology transfer of production from global biopharma company GSK to India-based biotechnology company Bharat Biotech is complete. The companies began their partnership in 2021.
This reduction will be made possible through process improvements, expanded production capacity, cost-effective manufacturing, and minimal profit margins, according to the companies. The vaccine was developed by GSK, the nonprofit organization PATH, and other partners — a process that took decades.