TB31F

TB31F is a humanized monoclonal antibody developed as a transmission-blocking intervention for malaria. It specifically targets the gamete surface protein Pfs48/45 on Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite responsible for the most severe form of malaria. By binding to this highly conserved epitope, TB31F inhibits fertilization and subsequent parasite development in the mosquito midgut after a mosquito ingests blood from an infected person who has received TB31F. This mechanism prevents onward transmission of malaria from humans to mosquitoes but does not directly treat or prevent infection in humans themselves. Clinical studies have shown that single intravenous doses can maintain high levels of transmission-reducing activity (TRA) for several months, potentially covering an entire malaria season[1][2][3][4]. The drug is being evaluated both intravenously and subcutaneously in healthy adults and children, with ongoing trials assessing its safety and efficacy in endemic populations[6][7].