When Big Egos Clash -- Over Rival Malaria Vaccines

The New York Times this morning prominently features the efforts of Sanaria, Inc. of Rockville, MD to develop an malaria vaccine. Sanaria president Stephen Hoffman, a former military researcher, and his team use the attenuated whole-parasite method of triggering an immune reaction, which is the classic method used in the polio vaccine, for instance.

Near the end of the story, Hoffman is roundly attacked by rival researcher Pierre Druilhe of the non-profit Pasteur Institute in France. His rival research team uses a protein fragment from the parasite's genome, expresses it in large quantities using biotech methods, and injects the fragment in human volunteers to provoke the immune response.

Besides quarreling over their rival methods, Druilhe accuses Hoffman of performing the research at a private firm so he can sell the vaccine for a ton of money in the first world to tourists who will be traveling in the Third World. Both will offer their vaccines, if successful, at low-cost to the developing world.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is only backing Hoffmann with its mega-millions, according to the story. You'd think they would promote a race by ensuring that both sides in the competition are well-funded.