There are fewer positive news stories than when rich men do good things. Billionare and active philanthropist Bill Gates recently announced he and his wife's foundation will donate $168.7 million to develop vaccines for malaria.
Worldwide the disease targets 300-500 million people a year, with over one million cases resulting in death--primarily among African children. Malaria is transmitted through the bites of parasites like mosquitos, who breed in less than sanitary waters.
A slew of other multi-million dollar companies recently donated funds to prevention efforts, but Gates' contribution is largely going to a specific vaccine, known as RTS,S. According to studies it shows to be the most promising combatant to malaria, as attacking the root of the problem by ridding the world of unsanitary conditions proves to be a next to impossible dream.
Originally developed in 1987, RTS,S induces the production of antibodies and white blood cells that are believed to diminish the capacity of malaria parasite to infect, survive, and develop in the human liver. In it's current state it only provides partial protection against malaria, but it also stimulates a protective immune response to hepatitis B.
"I'm very hopeful that the malaria vaccine currently in advanced testing will be proven effective, but that will just be the first step," said Gates at a press conference. "Now it's time to develop a new generation of vaccines that are even more effective, and could someday help eradicate malaria altogether."
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant will go to the Malaria Vaccine Initiative towards projects raning from early-stage laboratory research to advanced clinical testing.
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