Posts Tagged: "malaria"

Closer than ever to a malaria vaccine

The malaria vaccine may have the capability to prevent millions of cases of malaria, especially in young children who are incredibly susceptible to the parasitic disease. Studies from 2011 and 2012 dampened optimism about this malaria treatment as the vaccine stopped malaria episodes in less than half of those children younger than two years of age that received it. However, follow-up data showed that when a booster shot was applied a total of 1,774 cases of malaria were prevented per 1,000 vaccinations. Without a booster, the vaccination still prevented 1,363 malaria cases.

The Importance of Protecting Incremental, Improvement Innovation

Innovation provides new therapies and breakthrough treatments that extend and enhance life. The scientific and financial resources required for these advances are an investment worth making and an important precedent for global health. Patents encourage those innovations, making cutting-edge treatments a reality. Patents give innovation life. Current efforts to amend existing intellectual property legislation to “fix” the patent system will only undermine the incentives that encourage innovation. All innovation, both breakthrough discoveries and incremental improvements, is valuable and should be protected and rewarded. India, Brazil, South Africa and other emerging economies should take note. Their proposed changes, aimed at weakening intellectual property rights protections, are misguided and potentially very damaging to public health.