Dengue Fever Vaccine Advancement Shows Promising Signs

Updated May 27, 2025
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Global ⁣efforts to​ combat dengue‌ fever are gaining momentum as several vaccine candidates advance through⁤ clinical trials. Researchers hope that the success of COVID-19 ‌vaccines will boost the ⁢search for a safe and effective dengue fever vaccine. ​Novel approaches, such ‌as mRNA vaccine ⁢platforms, ‌offer renewed hope in preventing this widespread disease.

Sanofi Pasteur’s ⁢Dengvaxia, the first dengue ⁣vaccine, was introduced ⁢in 2015. The European Medicines Agency ⁢(EMA) approved⁢ Dengvaxia in ⁤December 2018 for‌ individuals aged 9⁣ to 45 in endemic regions⁣ with prior dengue infection.‌ The U.S. Food and Drug ⁤Management ‍(FDA) followed suit in ‍May 2019,approving it ​for‍ children aged 9 to 16 with a documented prior infection living in endemic areas. Dengvaxia‌ has also ‌been approved in several Latin⁢ American and Asian​ countries.

Takeda’s‍ TAK-003 vaccine is based on a live-attenuated⁣ DENV-2 virus, serving as the genetic backbone for all four‍ dengue serotypes. This tetravalent vaccine requires two doses administered three months ⁤apart. Takeda’s Phase III TIDES trial,initiated in 2016 across eight dengue-endemic countries in Latin America‍ and Asia,enrolled over 20,000 children ⁢and adolescents aged 4 to 16. The‌ trial ⁢assesses the vaccine’s efficacy and long-term ‌side effects.

Primary results released by Takeda in November 2019 ⁣indicated that TAK-003 was well-tolerated and provided protection against dengue, with an overall ‍efficacy​ of 80% after 12 ​months.⁤ The⁢ lancet⁤ published secondary results in March 2020, showing an overall efficacy of 73% after 18 months.

Instituto butantan in Brazil is also making strides with its TAV003 vaccine. ⁣A large ⁢Phase III community-based trial began in February 2016, involving nearly 17,000 adults and⁣ children in urban areas with dengue transmission. Results are expected ⁢in the first half of 2021.

The ‌U.S.National Institute ​of ⁣Allergy and infectious Diseases⁢ (NIAID) ​has developed TV003 and TV005, variations of the same‌ live-attenuated vaccine. These vaccines are intended as a single⁣ dose. ‌NIAID has licensed TV003/TV005 to multiple‍ manufacturers to ensure affordable market ⁤access in dengue-endemic regions.

Phase ⁢II trials of TV003/TV005 have been‍ conducted in Thailand, Bangladesh,⁤ and Brazil. Medigen Biotech’s phase II trial of TV003 in Taiwan ​showed great safety and an⁢ immune response against all four dengue serotypes in participants aged 20 to 70.

TDENV-PIV, a purified inactivated‌ vaccine ⁣developed​ through a collaboration ⁤between ‍GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), and Fiocruz, completed its Phase⁤ II trial‌ in the U.S. Results indicated good tolerability⁤ and enhanced‌ immune response with ⁤booster shots.

Other vaccine candidates in Phase I trials include Merck’s V180, a recombinant subunit dengue vaccine, and the U.S. Naval Medical Research Center’s (NMRC) DNA vaccine. KM Biologics completed a Phase I trial of its KD-382 live​ attenuated ⁤tetravalent ‍dengue vaccine ⁤in‌ Australia. The Serum Institute of india is currently recruiting​ for its Phase I⁣ trial ⁣of Dengusiil.

Recent research highlights the potential of mRNA‌ vaccines. Articles​ published⁤ in Frontiers in ⁢Immunology and Molecular Therapy describe mRNA vaccine candidates that induced strong immune responses and protection against ⁤DENV-1 and DENV-2⁢ in ​mice, respectively.

What’s next

The dengue fever ​vaccine pipeline⁤ continues to advance, with diverse vaccine approaches showing promise in combating this ⁢significant ‍global health⁢ threat. ⁤The development of a⁢ safe and effective dengue vaccine‍ remains a high priority, with ongoing ‌trials and research paving the way for future breakthroughs.