New hope for mothers and babies: Spotlight on the ADVANCE‑VAC4PM placental malaria vaccine development efforts

A new feature in the EU Horizon Magazine highlights the ADVANCE-VAC4PM project, an EU-funded initiative coordinated by the European Vaccine Initiative (EVI),  which is paving the way for the world’s first vaccine to protect against placental malaria.

November 2025

Malaria during pregnancy is a leading cause of maternal and infant illness and death across sub-Saharan Africa, resulting in miscarriage, stillbirth, low birth weight, and life-threatening complications. The ADVANCE-VAC4PM project aims to change that by developing a vaccine that can protect women before they become pregnant.

The vaccine targets VAR2CSA, a protein that allows malaria parasites-infected red blood cells to attach to the placenta. By blocking this mechanism, the vaccine could protect both mother and child from the symptomatic phase of the infection.

Image: Horizon Magazine 2025

Two promising vaccine candidates - PRIMVAC and PAMVAC - have already shown encouraging safety and immunogenicity results in early clinical studies. New clinical activities are now being planned by EVI and its partners to advance the clinical development of both vaccine candidates.

Beyond clinical development, ADVANCE-VAC4PM is strengthening African research capacity, deploying health digital monitoring tools, and evaluating the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of vaccine introduction in endemic regions.

If successful, this vaccine could become a breakthrough in maternal and child health, preventing thousands of deaths every year and advancing the fight against malaria.

Read the full Horizon Magazine article: New malaria vaccine offers hope for mothers and babies across Africa

Watch video: https://youtu.be/shMblC2F3f8