Bharat Biotech and GSK Commit to Affordable Access to RTS,S, the World’s First Malaria Vaccine, with Major Price Reduction and Expanded Availability in Africa
Bharat Biotech International Limited (BBIL) and GSK plc have jointly announced a pivotal step toward global health equity by committing to significantly lower the cost of RTS,S, the world’s first malaria vaccine, for children in malaria-endemic regions. This announcement was made as part of their pledges to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, ahead of Gavi’s sixth replenishment cycle (Gavi 6.0) scheduled for 2026 to 2030. In a landmark move, Bharat Biotech will progressively reduce the price of the RTS,S vaccine to below $5 per dose by 2028—a reduction of more than 50%.
This milestone reflects a convergence of innovation, global collaboration, and manufacturing efficiency. The reduced pricing of RTS,S, a product developed through years of research and collaboration between GSK, PATH, and other global health partners, is driven by several strategic factors. These include enhancements in the manufacturing process, expanded production capacity, cost-effective scaling of operations, and a shared commitment to minimal profit margins in order to prioritize public health impact over financial gain.
A Legacy of Innovation and Partnership
RTS,S, which became the first malaria vaccine recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2021, represents a culmination of decades of scientific research and public-private collaboration. Since WHO’s recommendation, GSK has invested heavily in strengthening manufacturing capabilities and optimizing production efficiency. These efforts have laid the foundation for a seamless technology transfer to Bharat Biotech, ensuring continuity in production and long-term supply security.
Bharat Biotech has taken this commitment further by investing over $200 million into high-output manufacturing infrastructure, product development, and the integration of advanced technology platforms. These investments are instrumental in enabling the gradual implementation of the price reduction plan, which is set to be fully realized by 2028 once the complete transfer of production responsibilities is finalized.
Transformative Impact Across Africa
With Gavi’s financial and logistical support, twelve African countries are on track to integrate the RTS,S vaccine into their routine immunization programs by the end of 2025. These countries represent regions with the highest malaria burdens, where children are especially vulnerable to severe illness and death. This vaccine rollout, made possible through partnerships among GSK, Bharat Biotech, PATH, WHO, MedAccess, and country governments, marks a turning point in the fight against malaria—a disease that continues to claim hundreds of thousands of lives each year, especially among children under the age of five.
Dr. Krishna Ella, Executive Chairman of Bharat Biotech, emphasized the broader significance of the announcement. “This pledge to Gavi 6.0 is more than a pricing announcement. It’s a commitment to global equity, innovation, and collaboration. We aim to change the course of the malaria burden for millions of children and families. By joining forces with GSK, and working closely with Gavi and the WHO, we are taking a real step toward closing the gap between vaccine supply and the urgent needs of children at risk of malaria,” said Dr. Ella. He further underscored Bharat Biotech’s guiding principles of ensuring safety, affordability, and accessibility for every technology the company develops.
Echoing these sentiments, Thomas Breuer, Chief Global Health Officer at GSK, highlighted the shared vision that underpinned the partnership with Bharat Biotech. “We partnered with Bharat Biotech in 2021 with a common goal: to find a sustainable solution to get ahead of malaria,” Breuer stated. “Today’s announcement demonstrates our commitment to changing the trajectory of infectious diseases like malaria, making a difference in the lives of children and families across Africa.”
Breuer emphasized that GSK’s contributions include extensive work on manufacturing efficiencies and a comprehensive technology transfer process to Bharat Biotech, all of which support the long-term sustainability and affordability of the RTS,S vaccine.
Evidence of Impact and the Road Ahead
The introduction of RTS,S is supported by robust clinical data accumulated over several years and multiple malaria transmission seasons in endemic countries. A recent evaluation by the WHO of the Malaria Vaccine Implementation Programme (MVIP), which was conducted in Ghana, Kenya, and Malawi, revealed compelling results. Between 2019 and 2023, over two million children received the vaccine. The data showed a 13% reduction in all-cause mortality and a 22% decline in hospital admissions due to severe malaria among vaccinated children.
Moreover, when administered seasonally alongside seasonal malaria chemoprevention in high-transmission regions, the WHO reports that the two approved malaria vaccines—RTS,S and R21/Matrix-M—can prevent approximately 75% of malaria episodes. These results are further validation of the critical role vaccines can play as part of a broader malaria intervention toolkit.
Malaria control relies on a multifaceted strategy, often referred to as the “malaria toolbox,” which includes tools such as insecticide-treated bed nets, indoor residual spraying (IRS), prompt diagnostic testing, antimalarial treatments, seasonal chemoprevention, and now, effective vaccines. No single intervention is sufficient on its own. The integration of RTS,S into immunization programs provides a vital new layer of protection for children and supports broader malaria elimination goals.
Looking ahead, GSK has initiated research into a next-generation malaria vaccine that targets a different stage of the malaria parasite’s life cycle. The aim is to further strengthen the “toolbox” by developing even more potent and durable preventive tools that can contribute to sustained progress in malaria elimination efforts.
Global Health Leaders Applaud the Milestone
The price reduction announcement and the broader collaboration between GSK and Bharat Biotech have been lauded by global health stakeholders. Dr. Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, expressed her appreciation, stating, “We are grateful to GSK and Bharat Biotech for their innovation and commitment to protecting millions of children and communities from malaria. Our ambition is to protect at least 50 million more children across Africa by the end of 2030, and this collaboration helps put that goal firmly within reach.”
Dr. Kwaku Poku Asante, Director of the Kintampo Health Research Centre in Ghana, and a key epidemiologist involved in malaria vaccine research, emphasized the real-world impact already being observed. “As a result of the collaboration between the research community in endemic countries, industry, NGOs, and multilateral organizations, the world’s first malaria vaccine is helping to reduce all-cause mortality and hospitalizations of severe malaria among children,” said Dr. Asante. “Today’s announcement marks a pivotal moment. Any lower-cost vaccine means more children can be protected, and sustained affordability is essential to ensuring our progress is maintained and accelerated.”
A New Era for Malaria Prevention
With this transformative announcement, Bharat Biotech and GSK are not only fulfilling a crucial global health promise but also setting a new precedent for vaccine accessibility and affordability. As the RTS,S vaccine becomes increasingly available and affordable, it signals a turning point in the global response to malaria—especially in the regions where the disease continues to devastate communities and overburden health systems.
By 2030, if current commitments and implementation timelines are met, tens of millions of children across Africa will be protected by this historic medical breakthrough. The pledge to reduce the cost of the vaccine to below $5 per dose—combined with investments in manufacturing, innovation, and public health infrastructure—could significantly alter the trajectory of malaria-related mortality and usher in a new era in the fight against one of the world’s oldest and deadliest diseases.
