LONDON, July 24 (Reuters) - GlaxoSmithKline isapplying for regulatory approval for the world's first vaccineagainst malaria, designed for use in children in Africa.
The British drugmaker said the shot, called RTS,S, isintended exclusively for use outside the European Union but willbe evaluated by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) incollaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Malaria, a mosquito-borne parasitic disease, kills more than600,000 people a year, mainly babies in the poorest parts ofsub-Saharan Africa.
"An effective vaccine for use alongside other measures suchas bed nets and anti-malarial medicines would represent anadvance in malaria control," GSK said in a statement.
The WHO has previously indicated it may recommend use ofRTS,S from as early as 2015 if EMA drugs regulators back itslicence application. (Reporting by Kate Kelland, editing by Jason Neely)
Glaxosmithkline (GSK)