Fraunhofer CMB Receives Gates Foundation Grant To Develop Innovative Malaria Vaccines

The Fraunhofer USA Center for
Molecular Biotechnology ("Fraunhofer CMB") announced today the receipt of a
$3.5 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support the
development of transmission-blocking vaccines against malaria. To achieve
the goals of this project, Fraunhofer CMB will employ its proprietary
platform technology to produce lifesaving vaccines in non-genetically
modified plants.



Despite a century of efforts, malaria remains a major cause of
morbidity and mortality in tropical and subtropical regions throughout the
world, causing more than 300 million acute cases and at least one million
deaths annually. Malaria is the leading cause of death in young children in
Africa, killing one child every 30 seconds.



Vaccines could provide an effective means for the control and
prevention of malaria. Previous research has shown that some human
antibodies can reduce the transmission of malaria parasites from humans to
mosquitoes. The project announced today will develop vaccine candidates
designed to elicit these antibodies, thus preventing further spread of
disease in endemic communities.



"This support from the Gates Foundation will significantly expedite the
development of these novel vaccines. This will be an international effort
between several institutions, wherein each group will contribute their
expertise and know-how," said Dr. Vidadi Yusibov, Executive Director of
CMB. "Fraunhofer CMB will work closely with the Malaria Vaccine Development
Branch of NIAID of the National Institutes of Health, USA, Radboud
University Nijmegen Medical Centre in the Netherlands, Imperial College
London's Division of Cell and Molecular Biology, UK, and The Cell-Free
Science and Technology Research Center, Ehime University in Japan to ensure
success."



This is the third grant that Fraunhofer CMB has received from the Bill
& Melinda Gates Foundation to support development of vaccines using its
plant- based platform. A $2.7 million award for development of novel
subunit vaccines against influenza was announced last week. Fraunhofer CMB
was also the recipient of a $1.2 million Gates Foundation grant in 2005 for
pre-clinical studies towards the development of a vaccine against African
trypanosomiasis.



About Fraunhofer USA Center for Molecular Biotechnology (CMB).
Fraunhofer USA Center for Molecular Biotechnology was established in July
2001 as a partnership between the Fraunhofer Society in Germany and the
State of Delaware. CMB is part of Fraunhofer USA, Inc., a non-profit
organization that has five research Centers in the United States. CMB is
located at the Delaware Technology Park in Newark, Delaware and is a unique
institution conducting research in the area of plant biotechnology,
developing cutting edge technologies to assist the diagnosis, prevention
and treatment of human and animal diseases.


Fraunhofer USA

fraunhofer