University Of Oxford And ReciBioPharm Expand Strategic Collaboration In Fight Against Malaria

• Expands the collaboration to manufacture two malaria vaccine candidates (R78C and RH5.1) for Phase 1/2 clinical trials.
• Delivers the sixth malaria vaccine candidate for the University of Oxford.
• Provides drug substance, drug product and large-scale fill and finish expertise through ReciBioPharm, Recipharm's Advanced Biologics division.
• Contributes to global malaria control and elimination efforts, addressing a disease that caused 608,000 deaths in 2022, 76% of which were among children under five in Africa (WHO).

The University of Oxford and ReciBioPharm, Recipharm’s Advanced Biologics division and a leading Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisation (CDMO), are expanding their long-standing collaboration with the development of two blood-stage malaria vaccine candidates for Phase 1/2 clinical trials. Since 2016, this collaboration has delivered five vaccine candidates and will now actively progress the manufacture of R78C and RH5.1 for the University’s Draper Lab, based at the Department of Paediatrics.

ReciBioPharm initially produced both the drug substance and drug product for R78C and is now handling large scale fill and finish activities to meet increased vial demand for ongoing trials. Additionally, RH5.1, previously manufactured by another CDMO, is now being fully produced by ReciBiopharm, including drug substance, drug product and large-scale fill and finish.

“This collaboration with ReciBioPharm has been instrumental in accelerating the development of our malaria vaccine portfolio,” said Simon Draper, Professor of Vaccinology and Translational Medicine at the University of Oxford, and Group Leader of the Draper Lab. “With numerous malaria vaccine candidates now developed or in active development, this partnership plays a critical role in advancing innovative solutions aimed at reducing the global burden of malaria, and supports our shared mission to eradicate malaria altogether.”

Greg Behar, CEO of Recipharm, said: “We’re proud to deepen our collaboration with the University of Oxford on such a critical global health challenge. Our ability to deliver drug substance and drug product for larger scales under GMP conditions makes us a strong partner for accelerating vaccine candidates from lab to clinic. Together, we’re advancing science with the potential to save millions of lives.”

Globally, malaria continues to pose a significant health threat. According to the World Health Organisation’s World Malaria Report 2023, there was an estimated 249 million cases of malaria worldwide in 2022, resulting in 608,000 deaths. Notably, children under 5 accounted for 76% of all malaria deaths in the WHO African Region. Despite progress, effective vaccines are essential to turning the tide against this disease.

Together, the University of Oxford and ReciBioPharm are building on a shared commitment to innovation, scientific excellence, and global health impact, with the aim of achieving the ultimate goal: malaria elimination.

References
[1] World Health Organization. World Malaria Report 2023. Geneva: WHO; 2023. For more information, visit https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240078441

About The Draper Lab
The Draper Lab is based in the Department of Paediatrics and Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery at the University of Oxford. The group is led by Simon Draper, Professor of Vaccinology and Translational Medicine, and the clinical team, led by Associate Professor Angela Minassian, is based at the University’s Centre for Clinical Vaccinology and Tropical Medicine.

The Draper Lab studies vaccine-induced immunity, with a particular focus on antibody immunology and human malaria infection. A critical strength of the group is a strong dual focus on preclinical vaccine development in parallel with clinical vaccine testing and experimental medicine studies.

To date the group has undertaken 25 proof-of-concept Phase 1/2 clinical trials assessing novel vaccine delivery platforms and immunisation regimens; developing controlled human malaria infection (CHMI) models for Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax; and testing novel blood-stage malaria vaccine antigens (PfRH5 for P. falciparum and PvDBP_RII for P. vivax). The PfRH5 clinical vaccine development programme now spans multiple partnerships across East and West Africa. The group has a strong track record of partnering with biotech and pharma, and participation in numerous collaborative programmes with academic and industrial partners, seeking to develop improved vaccines or antibody-based therapeutics.

About the Department of Paediatrics
The Department of Paediatrics at the University of Oxford is a global leader in the research, delivery and advancement of the health and care of children and adolescents. It hosts internationally renowned programmes in drug development, gastroenterology, haematology, HIV, immunology, neuroimaging, neuromuscular diseases and vaccinology to name a few, and its work spans from early proof-of-concept and fundamental science to its application in clinical settings.

The Department of Paediatrics’ pioneering research, policy development and clinical excellence is led by world-class experts in their field and it has a long track record of success in the development and delivery of effective treatments and interventions. Its work is supported by the clinical and educational resources of one of the world’s foremost academic institutions.

About Recipharm
Recipharm is a leading Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisation (CDMO) employing over 5,000 employees worldwide. Recipharm provides manufacturing services of pharmaceuticals in various dosage forms, including sterile fill & finish, oral solid dosage and biologics; clinical trial material development and manufacturing services; and pharmaceutical product development. Its ReciBioPharm division works with customers to develop and commercialise advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs): pre-clinical to clinical development, commercial development and manufacture for new biological modalities, encompassing technologies based on live viruses and viral vectors, live-microbial biopharmaceutical products, nucleic acid-based mRNA and plasmid DNA production.

Recipharm manufactures several hundred different products to customers ranging from big pharma to smaller research and development companies. It operates development and manufacturing facilities in France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the US.

For more information on Recipharm, visit www.recipharm.com and www.recibiopharm.com