Dengue Outbreak: Brazil Approves Vaccine Dengvaxia by Sanofi SA

The Philippines’ Food and Drug Administration approved Dengvaxia for the prevention of dengue caused by all four types in individuals between the ages of 9 to 45 who reside in endemic areas. Its main task is to aid in preventing the disease that is caused by four dengue virus types namely the DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3, and DEN-4.

“This new approval of Dengvaxia by the ANVISA, a well-recognized and World Health Organization-certified regulatory authority is an important milestone for Sanofi Pasteur”, Guillaume Leroy, Sanofi Pasteur’s vice president of dengue vaccine, said.

After extensive clinical trials conducted in order to prove its effectiveness, the Dengvaxia dengue fever vaccine was approved in the Philippines. Asian endemic countries spend an estimated 6.5 billion Dollars annually in both direct medical and indirect costs due to dengue. “The approval of Dengvaxia®, the world’s first dengue vaccine, in the Philippines will be a critical addition to the ongoing public education and vector control efforts now directed towards dengue prevention in our country”, said Montellano.

Up to this point, dengue fever has become the fastest growing mosquito-borne disease on Earth, with over 400 million diagnostics annually.

The has joined Mexico by giving the green-light to Dengvaxia, the world’s first effective dengue fever vaccine approved for widespread use.

Dengue was previously considered a disease of the tropics and was formerly endemic in only nine countries. The vaccines were developed by Sanofi Pasteur, which is a French pharmaceutical firm- he added in his words.

Although dengue affects people from all ages and socio-economic backgrounds, the greatest number of dengue cases worldwide occurs in the highly mobile and social segment of endemic populations that include preadolescents to adult ages of 9 years and above. “Dengvaxia has the potential to significantly reduce the dengue disease burden and to help Brazil reach the WHO’s 2020 dengue reduction objectives“.

The Philippines followed in the footsteps of Mexico just last week.

Dengue is a major public health priority in tropical and subtropical countries in Asia and Latin America.

Sanofi Pasteur’s vaccine is the culmination of over two decades of scientific innovation and collaboration, as well as 25 clinical studies in 15 countries around the world. Hopefully, with more countries opting for this vaccine, the ever-expanding dengue fever may one day be completely erased.

The institute has been a major partner in the vaccine’s development, involved in all three phases of its clinical development.