In a renewed global health effort, GSK and India-based Bharat Biotech have announced a multi-year collaboration aimed at expanding access to the world’s first malaria vaccine by making it more affordable. As stated in their joint June 25 press release, the two companies are working toward reducing the price of the malaria vaccine, Mosquirix (RTS,S), to under $5 per dose by 2028.
Originally developed by GSK in partnership with PATH (formerly the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health), Mosquirix became the first malaria vaccine recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2021. Bharat Biotech, a key vaccine supplier to the global alliance Gavi, signed a product transfer agreement shortly after to manufacture the vaccine antigen and help ensure long-term supply. GSK committed to providing up to 15 million doses through 2028.
Bharat Biotech has since invested over $200 million to upgrade manufacturing facilities and increase output. Combined with GSK’s own “significant investments” in improving production capacity and efficiency, these developments now support a phased reduction in Mosquirix’s price. According to the companies, the price will drop more than 50% starting immediately, with a target of reaching under $5 per dose by 2028. GSK’s Chief Global Health Officer Thomas Breuer emphasized the partnership’s mission: "We partnered with Bharat Biotech in 2021 with a common goal: to find a sustainable solution to get ahead of malaria."
This commitment aligns with Gavi’s strategic plan for its 2026–2030 replenishment phase, known as Gavi 6.0. The five-year strategy aims to enhance vaccine access, strengthen healthcare systems, and stabilize vaccine markets through sustainable funding. Gavi is set to introduce Mosquirix into routine immunization programs in 12 African countries by the end of 2025. According to GSK’s release, this achievement was made possible through collaborations with Bharat Biotech, PATH, the WHO, and other global health partners.
Gavi CEO Dr. Sania Nishtar highlighted the importance of this new agreement: “The latest agreement between GSK and Bharat Biotech puts Gavi’s goal of protecting at least 50 million more children across Africa from malaria by the end of 2030 ‘firmly in reach.’”
Despite progress, malaria control efforts face growing financial threats. WHO data indicates that nearly half of the global population is at risk of malaria. Since 2000, coordinated malaria responses have saved over 13 million lives and prevented 2 billion infections. However, recent proposals to cut foreign aid could stall these gains. The proposed 2026 U.S. federal budget includes a 47% reduction in the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), decreasing annual support to $424 million.
Bill Gates raised alarm about these potential setbacks, stating, “For the first time in decades, the number of kids dying around the world will likely go up this year instead of down because of massive cuts to foreign aid. That is a tragedy.” The Gates Foundation announced a $1.6 billion contribution to Gavi over the next five years, ahead of a co-hosted pledging event with the European Union aiming to raise at least $9 billion for the alliance.
Meanwhile, GSK is advancing development of a next-generation malaria vaccine that features a novel antigen targeting a different stage of the malaria parasite’s lifecycle. This second-generation candidate aims to enhance efficacy and reduce the number of required booster doses. Katie Ewer, head of the program, noted in an April update that this could make the vaccine “more accessible and easier to implement in routine immunization programs.”
