Thomas Breuer

Chief Global Health Officer, GSK

A global biopharma is fighting malaria in endemic countries through partnerships that harness R&D, broaden access to prevention and treatment options and strengthen health systems.

Thomas Breuer, Chief Global Health Officer at global biopharma company GSK, is proud to be working at the forefront of malaria prevention and treatment. After all, through partnerships, his Global Health team has added significant innovations to the malaria toolbox.

The world’s first malaria vaccine, developed with PATH and other partners, was rolled out for the first time in routine immunisation programmes across endemic countries in Africa in 2024. That same year, the first single-dose medicine for endemic markets for the prevention of relapse of another strain of malaria, launched through national malaria programmes in Brazil and Thailand, thanks to a long-term collaboration with Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV).

It’s crucial to ensure that
children have access to vital
vaccines and medicines.

Making use of tools to fight malaria

“The term ‘toolbox’ is apt,” agrees Breuer. “Because there is no single tool — no one drug or vaccine — which can reduce the burden of malaria on its own. Yet, if vaccines are used in addition to other tools such as malaria chemoprevention and (insecticide) sprays and bed nets, we could see a dramatic improvement. So, using a ‘toolbox’ is, is the best approach to eliminating malaria.”

However, as the disease is still a major cause of illness and death particularly in young children, Breuer admits that this is a fight GSK cannot win on its own. The power of partnerships is vital because different organisations “bring different expertise to the table.”

 Partnerships drive research and development

First, there are partnerships that GSK has forged in the research and development space. “Our malaria vaccine was developed with PATH (a global nonprofit) and other partners,” explains Breuer. Yet, he stresses, without expert funding and planning help from organisations such as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and distributors such as UNICEF, enabling access at scale would have been a challenge. Partnerships, such as these, help deliver innovations to people who need them.

Breuer is also excited by other developments in the pipeline including a new malaria vaccine his team are working on – and partnership will be central to its success.

Improving access and strengthening health systems

“It’s crucial to ensure that children have access to vital vaccines and medicines,” he adds and that’s why GSK partners with NGOs to train health workers, build local capacity and expertise and support disease surveillance. “For example, in Liberia and Sierra Leone, we work with an organisation called Last Mile Health to support the implementation of malaria vaccines to remote areas,” says Breuer.

“But the work isn’t done yet. We’re committed to tackling diseases like malaria that are prevalent in lower-income countries, and I’m proud to be a part of that effort.”