Dengue Vaccine: Phase-3 Clinical Trials To Begin In August; Indigenous Drug-makers Collaborate With ICMR
New Delhi: India is moving closer to developing its first-ever vaccine against dengue, as the indigenous drug-makers Serum Institute of India (SII) and Panacea Biotech have applied for collaboration with the Indian Institute of Medical Research's (ICMR) collaboration on Phase-3 trials. According to news reports, the trials, due to begin in August this year, will be conducted to evaluate the efficacy, along with safety and immunogenicity of the tetravalent dengue vaccine developed by the manufacturers. In September last year, Phase-1 trials of the vaccine were conducted. Also, phase 1/2 pediatric trials are underway for another dengue vaccine for which ICMR has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the SII. Dengue or break-bone fever is a viral infection that spreads from mosquitoes to people, causing a significant number of deaths across the world. According to the World Health Organisation, about half of the world's population is now at risk of dengue with an estimated 100400 million infections occurring each year. According to the National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control, 1,93,245 cases of dengue and 346 deaths were reported across the country in 2021. Last year, more than 30,000 people contracted dengue with the numbers rising during the peak monsoon season. Every year, from July to November, an upsurge in cases of dengue disease can be observed mainly because of water logging, and unhygienic areas. The disease has a seasonal pattern, which means that the peak comes after the monsoon. Dengue virus is transmitted through the bite of a female Aedes mosquito. Aedes is a daytime feeder and can fly up to a limited distance of 400 meters. Dengue mosquitoes cant breed once the temperature falls below 16 degrees. Experts believe that the vaccine, which is expected to roll out within two years, will reduce the incidence of dengue, the burden of hospitalization, and most importantly, death. As of now, there is no specific treatment for dengue, so "there is an urgent need to develop effective vaccines against dengue viral disease, ICMR said in a statement. Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.
Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at 4:14 am