Thursday, July 26, 2012

World's 1st dengue vaccine beats 3 virus strains in clinical trial

A man suffering from dengue fever, sits under a mosquito net while seeking treatment at the Services Hospital in Lahore, in this file picture taken on Sep 18, 2011. The world's first vaccine against dengue, developed by French drugmaker Sanofi, has shown the ability to protect against disease caused by three of four dengue virus strains in a keenly awaited clinical trial in Thailand. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
PARIS (REUTERS) - The world's first vaccine against dengue, developed by French drugmaker Sanofi, has shown the ability to protect against disease caused by three of four dengue virus strains in a keenly awaited clinical trial in Thailand.
Sanofi said on Wednesday the proof of efficacy was 'a key milestone' in the 70-year quest to develop a viable dengue shot, adding the results also confirmed the safety profile of the vaccine candidate.

The mosquito-borne disease - also known as 'breakbone fever'- is a threat to nearly 3 billion people and is caused by four different types of virus, none of which confers immunity from the others.
Sanofi's vaccine generated an antibody response for all four dengue virus types, but evidence of protection was only demonstrated against three of the four circulating in Thailand.

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