PAMVAC

PAMVAC is a vaccine candidate designed to prevent pregnancy-associated malaria caused by *Plasmodium falciparum*. It is based on a recombinant fragment of the VAR2CSA protein, which mediates the binding of infected erythrocytes to chondroitin sulfate A (CSA) in the placenta—a key mechanism underlying placental malaria. The vaccine aims to induce antibodies that block this interaction, thereby reducing parasite sequestration in the placenta and protecting pregnant women from severe malaria outcomes. PAMVAC has been evaluated in phase 1 clinical trials and shown to be safe, well tolerated, and immunogenic, inducing functionally active antibodies that inhibit parasite binding[1][5][6]. The antigen spans interdomain region 1 through Duffy binding-like domain 2 (ID1-ID2a) of VAR2CSA[6][7]. It has been formulated with various adjuvants including Alhydrogel and glucopyranosyl lipid adjuvant-based formulations[5][6]. Developed using recombinant protein expression systems (notably Drosophila Schneider 2 cells), it represents an innovative approach for protecting primigravid women against placental malaria[7].