Announced $168 million to fund a new generation of malaria vaccines targeting higher efficacy

Bill Gates announced $168 million in new grants to develop a second generation of malaria vaccines beyond RTS,S, funding researchers exploring novel antigen targets, adjuvant combinations, and transmission-blocking approaches designed to achieve efficacy levels exceeding the 30–40% range of first-generation candidates. The investment reflected a long-term strategy: accepting that RTS,S alone would not be sufficient for eradication and funding the pipeline that would be needed a decade later. The grants supported teams at institutions across Africa, Europe, and North America.