The World Health Organization said Tuesday that a new malaria vaccine has shown strong results in a late-stage clinical trial, marking a potentially important advance in efforts to reduce one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases. The vaccine, developed by a European pharmaceutical company, reached 75% efficacy in testing, according to the agency.

The phase 3 trial included more than 4,800 children across sub-Saharan Africa, where malaria continues to claim hundreds of thousands of lives each year and places a heavy burden on health systems and families. Researchers and public health officials have long said that an effective vaccine could help close major gaps left by prevention tools such as insecticide-treated nets and antimalarial medicines.

While the results are encouraging, experts typically caution that vaccine rollout depends on broader questions of supply, cost, distribution, and long-term protection. For countries facing the highest malaria risk, access will matter as much as efficacy if the shot is to make a real difference in child survival.

The WHO announcement adds to growing optimism around malaria control, though health agencies are likely to continue emphasizing that no single tool will end the disease on its own. Still, a vaccine with this level of performance could become a major part of a wider strategy to reduce infections and save lives across the region.