I didn't mean to imply that drug companies have an obligation to produce products that aren't commercially viable. I understand that's just not the way the world works at the moment. I was just curious whether anyone knew whether lack of commercial viability was the reason we haven't seen a malaria vaccine yet.
Thirty years to reach this point isn't necessarily representative of the actual effort expended on finding a malaria vaccine. I wouldn't be surprised to discover that the same number of working hours goes towards treatments for male pattern baldness each year as has gone into a malaria vaccine over thirty years.
Simply put, if government is not going to develop or contract the development of a drug why should a company bend to pressure to produce and sell it at cost? However in this case this drug had support of the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation so not looking to profit off of it makes sense and may also be part of an agreement for funding.