The project, funded by the PATH malaria vaccine initiative (MVI), will see Burnet use its new technology and ARTES’s patented Metavax platform for developing the new type of malaria vaccine.
Each year, over 600,000 people die of malaria and it most severely affects young children and pregnant women.
Burnet Institute co-head of the Centre for Biomedical Research Professor James Beeson said the challenges in developing an effective malaria vaccine are substantial.
"One of the challenges for malaria is how to best make vaccines in order to stimulate a strong and effective immune response and boost the immune system to fight malaria infections," Beeson said.
As part of the project, researchers will aimed at producing purified vaccine antigens, including Pfs25 and Pfs230 as virus-like particles (VLPs) to prevent the transmission of malaria infection from mosquitoes to humans.
ARTES managing director Michael Piontek said in this new project, both the parties will combine their expertise to develop and test a new approach for producing malaria vaccines.
"We are excited about the recognition and support provided by MVI for this development work," Piontek said.
By developing new vaccines that interrupt the transmission of malaria, both firms aim to completely eradicate malaria and protect the population of entire world.
Image: Mosquito bite-led malaria kills over 600,000 people each year. Photo: courtesy of Burnet Institute.