Bharat Biotech Reduces Cost of Malaria Vaccine for African Children to Below $5 per Dose

The announcement forms part of the joint commitments made by the companies to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, under its 2026–2030 replenishment plan (Gavi 6.0), coinciding with the planned rollout of the RTS,S vaccine across 12 African nations via routine immunisation programs—supported by Gavi—by the end of 2025.

In a groundbreaking effort to enhance access to life-saving malaria protection for children across Africa, Bharat Biotech and GSK have announced a major price cut for the world’s first malaria vaccine, RTS,S. Owing to manufacturing advances, increased production capacity, and modest profit margins, the vaccine will be offered to endemic countries at under $5 per dose by 2028—a reduction of more than 50 percent.

The announcement aligns with the companies' joint commitments to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, as part of its 2026–2030 replenishment strategy (Gavi 6.0), and coincides with the planned rollout of the RTS,S vaccine—backed by Gavi—across 12 African countries through routine immunisation programs by the end of 2025.

RTS,S—developed by GSK in collaboration with PATH and other partners—became the first malaria vaccine endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2021. Since then, GSK has focused on scaling up production and transferring technology to Bharat Biotech. At the same time, Bharat Biotech has invested over $200 million in establishing high-capacity manufacturing facilities and advancing product development.

The GSK team has collaborated closely with Bharat Biotech to facilitate the transfer of vaccine manufacturing technology, while also achieving significant improvements in production efficiency—culminating in today’s pledge to Gavi’s replenishment initiative.

Malaria continues to claim over 600,000 lives each year, with the majority being children under five in sub-Saharan Africa. Preliminary findings from the WHO’s Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme (MVIP) in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi—where more than 2 million children received the RTS,S vaccine between 2019 and 2023—indicate a 13% reduction in all-cause mortality and a 22% decrease in hospitalisations due to severe malaria.

Dr. Kwaku Poku Asante, Director of the Kintampo Health Research Centre in Ghana, underscored the importance of the price reduction: “A more affordable vaccine enables greater protection for children in high-risk regions. Today’s announcement marks a critical milestone in the global fight against malaria.”

As part of a comprehensive malaria control strategy, the vaccine complements other proven interventions, including seasonal chemoprevention, insecticide-treated mosquito nets, and indoor residual spraying. GSK also announced progress on a next-generation vaccine targeting a different phase of the parasite’s lifecycle, aimed at further strengthening protection and supporting eradication goals.

With cost barriers removed and strong support from governments, researchers, and global health organizations, this announcement paves the way for one of the most ambitious malaria vaccination campaigns ever launched in Africa.

Conclusion

Bharat Biotech’s landmark decision to lower the cost of the RTS,S malaria vaccine to under $5 per dose by 2028 is more than just a pricing milestone—it’s a defining moment in the global pursuit of health equity. By making this life-saving vaccine more affordable and accessible, especially for children in high-burden African nations, the partnership between Bharat Biotech, GSK, and global health allies such as Gavi and the WHO is setting a new standard for innovation, collaboration, and compassion in public health.

With technology transfer well underway, production capacity expanding, and governments and organizations rallying behind the effort, this initiative has the power to transform the trajectory of malaria prevention. It’s not just a victory against a disease—it’s a leap toward a more just and healthier future for millions.

(Rh/Mradula U Naik/MSM/SE)