Can a Monoclonal Antibody Prevent Malaria?

In malaria-naive adults, pretreatment with a targeted monoclonal antibody prevented parasitemia after exposure to Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites in a controlled infection.

The Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite surface protein is required for malarial invasion of hepatocytes, a critical step in establishing infection. Researchers have identified a susceptible binding site on the circumsporozoite protein as well as a human monoclonal antibody (CIS43) specific to this highly conserved epitope. They now report results of a phase 1 clinical trial of monoclonal CIS43LS, modified from CIS43 to prolong its plasma half-life. Healthy adults with no previous malaria infection or vaccination received CIS43LS intravenously (5–40 mg/kg) or subcutaneously (5 mg/kg) to assess safety and pharmacokinetics; controls received no treatment. In an established model of human infection, a subgroup of participants was exposed to…

Reviewing Author

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Mary E. Wilson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardOneHealthTrust (formerly Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics, and Policy); Global Health Institute, University of Wisconsin

RoyaltiesUpToDate

Editorial BoardsJournal of Travel Medicine

Can a Monoclonal Antibody Prevent Malaria?

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Reviewing Author