Clinical trials of Plasmodium falciparum erythrocytic stage vaccines.

Efficacy trials for malaria blood-stage vaccines are currently underway in several field sites. Numerous issues surround the design and execution of such trials, and there are many opportunities for failure that have little to do with the vaccines per se. This review highlights some of the key issues to be considered by investigators designing such trials, including those that are unique to trials for erythrocytic stage vaccines.