icddr,b and UVM Pioneer Study of Promising Dengue Vaccine in Bangladesh
Researchers from icddr,b, a Dhaka, Bangladesh-based global health research institute, and the University of Vermont’s Larner College of Medicine have made significant progress in the development of a tetravalent dengue vaccine, publishing their findings in The Lancet Infectious Diseases. In Bangladesh, where dengue outbreaks have been escalating, this is a crucial development.
Dengue, often characterized by fever and bone pain in mild cases and severe manifestations involving shock, bleeding, and sometimes fatal outcomes in more serious cases, is a global health concern. The virus comprises four distinct serotypes, all of which can cause illness, with the most severe cases frequently linked to secondary infections.
The vaccine, known as TV005, demonstrated safety and immune responsiveness in a three-year study involving almost 200 volunteers of different age groups. Although the study wasn’t primarily focused on efficacy, no dengue cases were observed among vaccinated individuals, bringing the vaccine closer to broader use.
The groundbreaking research conducted by icddr,b and UVM marks the first study of dengue vaccines in Bangladesh. This collaborative initiative, known as the “Dengue in Dhaka Initiative (DIDI),” was launched in 2015 with the aim of advancing dengue vaccine development in Bangladesh. As part of this effort, clinical trials and laboratory infrastructure were established at icddr,b in 2015, including a preliminary study on dengue prevalence.
Additional studies are underway globally, including those led by the DIDI team, to further evaluate the efficacy, durability, and immune responses of tetravalent dengue vaccines. With the rising dengue threat, the hope is that this vaccine will benefit Bangladesh and South Asia. This achievement adds to the ongoing efforts by various pharmaceutical companies to develop tetravalent dengue vaccines, offering hope in the fight against this mosquito-borne disease.
Source: icddrb
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