Dengue Breakthroughs: New Treatments & Approvals?
- Global efforts to combat dengue fever are gaining momentum as several vaccine candidates advance through clinical trials.
- Sanofi Pasteur's Dengvaxia, the first dengue vaccine, was introduced in 2015.
- Takeda's TAK-003 vaccine is based on a live-attenuated DENV-2 virus, serving as the genetic backbone for all four dengue serotypes.
Exciting breakthroughs are emerging in teh fight against dengue fever! New dengue fever vaccine candidates, like Takeda’s TAK-003 and Brazil’s Instituto Butantan’s TAV003, are showing promising results in clinical trials, signaling real hope for global health. This article from News Directory 3 dives into these advancements, exploring the impact of mRNA vaccine platforms and the latest developments in dengue fever treatment. Discover the innovative research and ongoing trials that are reshaping the landscape of dengue fever prevention and treatment. Which treatments and initiatives are gaining momentum? Explore how these scientific advances could change lives. Discover what’s next…
Dengue Fever Vaccine Advancement Shows Promising Signs
Updated May 27, 2025
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.