a16z Podcast

Man, Mosquito, Malaria Vaccine

May 2, 2021
Rajeev Venkayya, president of Takeda's Global Vaccine Business Unit with a rich background in vaccine delivery, joins Jorge Conde, an a16z bio partner expert in infectious diseases. They discuss a groundbreaking malaria vaccine achieving 75% efficacy, the implications for vulnerable populations, and advancement through mRNA technology. The conversation delves into the disparity in vaccine development between wealthy and poorer nations and the ongoing struggle against malaria, highlighting challenges, innovations, and the path to widespread use.
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INSIGHT

Malaria's Impact

  • Malaria is one of the "big three" diseases, alongside HIV and tuberculosis, causing significant suffering and death.
  • These diseases have proven difficult targets for vaccine development, with existing vaccines being inadequate.
INSIGHT

Vaccine Breakthrough

  • A highly efficacious vaccine against a parasite like malaria is a significant achievement, given the parasite's complex nature.
  • This breakthrough highlights the importance of long-term research, even with "old world" technologies.
INSIGHT

Resource Disparity

  • Tropical diseases disproportionately affect poorer countries, potentially hindering research and development efforts.
  • Sonal Chokshi and Jorge Conde question if faster progress would have been made if these diseases were prevalent in richer nations.
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