The Philippines became the first Asian country to approve the sale of the world’s first-ever dengue vaccine “Dengvaxia” for the prevention of disease caused by four dengue types in individuals from 9-45 years of age.
- Dengvaxia is manufactured by French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi.
- The vaccine is approved by Philippines’ Food and Drug Administration.
About Dengvaxia
Dengvaxia is the first vaccine licensed for the prevention of dengue in the world. The vaccine is the pinnacle of over two decades of scientific innovation and 25 clinical studies in 15 countries.
- Over 40,000 volunteers participated in the Sanofi Pasteur dengue vaccine clinical study program (phase I, II and III), of whom, 29,000 volunteers received the vaccine.
- It reduces the risk of hospitalization by 80%.
- It has secured its first regulatory approval in Mexico
Dengue fever has four separate strains—DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 and DEN-4.
What WHO says about Dengue?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), dengue is the fastest growing mosquito-borne disease in the world today, causing nearly 400 million infections every year.
- In the last 50 years dengue has spread from being present in a handful of countries to being endemic in 128 countries, where about 4 billion people live and dengue incidence has likewise increased 30 fold in this time period.
About Sanofi
Sanofi is a global healthcare leader, discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions focused on patients’ needs.
- Sanofi has core strengths in diabetes solutions, human vaccines, innovative drugs, consumer healthcare, emerging markets, animal health and Genzyme.