Finally a way to prevent dengue. The world’s first vaccine against this viral infection transmitted by mosquitoes will be marketed in Mexico. The Sanofi Pasteur group which developed Dengaxia, the name of the vaccine, is pleased to have obtained the green from the Mexican authorities for its marketing. “This is a historic day. By its impact on public health, Dengvaxia is an innovation comparable to the vaccine against rabies or polio”, jubilant, Olivier Charmeil, head of the vaccines division of the Sanofi-Pasteur laboratory, questioned by Le Monde.
A business on the move
This unfeigned satisfaction can be explained by the considerable investment required in the development of this vaccine. Researchers worked on it for twenty years and the work cost 1.5 billion euros for research and development and industrial equipment. “This vaccine potentially has blockbuster status,” and could bring in more than a billion dollars in income per year, Olivier Charmeil told AFP. A few million doses are already available for quick deliveries. 100 million doses are expected to be produced from 2017.
Until now, the only means of preventing dengue have been through personal protection measures (installation of mosquito nets on windows, wearing of long-sleeved clothing, the use of materials impregnated with insecticide, spirals and sprayers) as well. as vectorial measures such as spreading and spraying of insecticides, recalls the WHO.
The dengue vaccine should be a game-changer. This preventive treatment, once administered, will protect vaccinated individuals aged 9 years and over at a rate of 66%. This vaccine will prevent 80% of the risk of hospitalization, according to the results of clinical studies.
It remains to generalize the marketing. The Sanofi Pasteur laboratory will submit by the end of December applications for authorization of Dengvaxia for 20 countries. Dengvaxia should arrive in the European Union in early 2016, and in 2017 in the United States.
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