A new research partnership between Canadian biotech firm Eyam Health and the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) aims to develop a long-lasting, affordable malaria prevention shot that could cost less than $1 per dose.
This innovation could mark a major shift in the global fight against malaria, especially in regions with limited healthcare infrastructure.
The collaboration will leverage Eyam Health’s cutting-edge technology, including the AI-driven Jennerator platform for designing next-generation monoclonal antibodies and the Gemini delivery system, which can administer multiple therapies in a single shot—without requiring cold storage.
Malaria still claims nearly 600,000 lives each year, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa. It affects children, pregnant women, and caregivers disproportionately. A single Gemini-based injection could protect over 50 million vulnerable people during the 4–5 month malaria transmission season—potentially replacing or complementing seasonal malaria chemoprevention strategies.
Dr Brice Campo, MMV’s Senior Director, hailed the project as “transformative,” citing its potential to simplify mass drug administration and improve preventive campaign coverage. Although monoclonal antibodies have shown promise for malaria prevention, their high production cost has limited their use in global health. Eyam’s Gemini technology eliminates the need for costly components like lipid nanoparticles, making large-scale delivery more feasible in low-resource settings.
Dr Wilf Jefferies, Eyam’s Chief Scientific Officer, described the initiative as a “new paradigm for global health,” highlighting how advanced biologics can now address tropical diseases with scalable, cost-effective solutions.
This partnership underscores a growing push to combine artificial intelligence, molecular innovation, and equitable delivery systems to eliminate malaria—and potentially prepare for future pandemics—through adaptable technologies that can be locally manufactured in Africa.
