Adrian Hill’s highly effective vaccine exceeded the World Health Organisation’s protection targets of 75pc to 80pc in clinical trials.
Ireland’s Sir Adrian Hill has received the European Inventor Award 2026, in the research category, for his work developing the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine. The highly effective vaccine achieved roughly 80pc protection in clinical trials, exceeding even the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) targets.
Designed for large-scale deployment in lower-income countries, the vaccine created by Hill and his team presents more of the malaria-specific protein regions needed to trigger a strong immune response, which offers significantly more protection against the disease.
It costs less than €3 to make per dose and can remain stable for up to two years under standard refrigeration conditions, helping make vaccination programmes more accessible in regions where malaria remains endemic.
Commenting on the win Hill said, “ I am delighted to accept this prestigious award on behalf of the many hundreds of people who have contributed to the discovery, development and licensure of our malaria vaccine over the past 12 years.”
