Malaria (Plasmodium falciparum) Vaccine

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), malaria, a mosquito-borne disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite, affected 170-311 million people in 2008 and caused more than 860,000 deaths. According to the WHO, half of the world's population lives in areas at risk of malaria transmission. The disease produces fever, chills, and flu-like symptoms.

The disease is treatable with drugs, but there is no approved vaccine for malaria, widely regarded as the best solution for controlling the disease. The parasite's complex life cycle has presented significant challenges to vaccine developers. Genocea's technology provides a comprehensive approach to identify protective antigens. The company's malarial program, which is in the discovery stage, is funded by the U.S. Department of Defense.