Differences in rates of SAEs were observed between the vaccine groups for specific events, such as seizures and meningitis, and were higher in the malaria vaccine group. Seizures were considered to be related to fever and meningitis was considered unlikely to be vaccine-related. These events will continue to be monitored and additional information about the safety profile of the RTS,S malaria vaccine candidate will become available over the next three years.

Tsiri Agbenyega, a principal investigator of the trial and Chair of the Clinical Trials Partnership Committee, said: "The publication of the first results in children aged 5 to 17 months marks an important milestone in the development of RTS,S. These results confirm findings from previous Phase II studies and support ongoing efforts to advance the development of this malaria vaccine candidate.  Having worked in malaria research for more than 25 years, I can attest to how difficult making progress against this disease has been. Sadly, many have resigned themselves to malaria being a fact of life in Africa. This need not be the case. Renewed interest in malaria by the international community, and scientific evidence such as that we are reporting today, should bring new hope that malaria can be controlled."

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