Merozoite Surface Protein 3 (MSP3)

Background

The conserved Merozoite Surface Protein-3 of the parasite P. falciparum (MSP3) has been identified as a target of a protective immune response against malaria in humans, particularly via biologically active cytophilic antibodies.

Objectives

To evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of increasing doses (10, 20, 30, and 100 µg) of a long synthetic peptide covering the 186-271 region of MSP3 (MSP3-LSP), when injected in the presence of Montanide ISA 720 or Alum as adjuvants in an open randomised phase I clinical trial.

The MSP3 project was received in response to European Malaria Vaccine Initiative's (now European Vaccine Initiative) call in 1998.

Product Development

A contract was signed in 2000 for the pharmaceutical development of  MSP3 and GLUtamate Rich Protein (GLURP) as Long Synthetic Peptides at Biopôle, Lausanne with Sedac Therapeutics, Lille.

Clinical Development

A contract was signed in 2001 with the University of Lausanne for a Phase I clinical trial, sponsored by European Malaria Vaccine Initiative (now European Vaccine Initiative):

Assessment of the Safety of a Long Synthetic Peptide derived from MSP3, a Plasmodium falciparum Merozoite Surface Antigen targeted by Biologically Active Human Antibodies: An Open, Randomized, Two Adjuvants, Three Doses Safety and Immunogenicity Phase I Clinical Trial.

A paper has been published in Infection and Immunity, December 2005, vol. 73, no.12 8017-8026.

MSP3 - Burkina Faso

The clinical development of MSP3 continued in Burkina Faso, and a contract was signed in 2003 with Centre National de Recherche et de Formation sur le Paludisme (CNRFP) for a Phase I clinical trial sponsored by the African Malaria Network Trust (AMANET). the Principal Investigator was Sodiomon Bienvenu Sirima:

Safety and immunogenicity of MSP3 long synthetic peptide candidate malaria vaccine in Burkinabé healthy male adult: a single blind randomised controlled trial. 

A paper has been published in Vaccine 2007 Mar 30;25(14):2723-32 (MSP3-LSP).

A further clinical trial was conducted in 2006 at CNRFP with the same Principal Investigator and also with AMANET as sponsor:

Evaluation of the safety and reactogenicity of Plasmodium falciparum Merozoite Surface Protein-3 Long synthetic peptide in children in Burkina Faso: A randomised controlled age de-escalation trial.