Why in News?  

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is developing AdFalciVax, India’s first indigenous two-stage malaria vaccine, as part of the Make in India initiative to support the country’s malaria elimination strategy.  

Key Highlights  

• Developer: ICMR in collaboration with DBT-National Institute of Immunology (DBT-NII), Regional Medical Research Centre (Bhubaneswar), and National Institute of Malaria Research (NIMR).  
• Vaccine Type: A recombinant chimeric multistage vaccine targeting two stages of Plasmodium falciparum (pre-erythrocytic & sexual stages), the parasite responsible for the deadliest form of malaria.  
• Unique Feature: Unlike existing vaccines, it aims to prevent human infection and reduce community transmission by mosquitoes.  
• Production Method: Uses Lactococcus lactis, a safe food-grade bacterium.  
• Preclinical Results: Shows broader protection, long-term immunity potential, and thermal stability (functional for 9+ months at room temperature).  
• Current Status: In early development stage, not yet approved for clinical use.