The first vaccine against dengue fever recently won clearance in Mexico, an initial step toward preventing the mosquito-borne illness.
Paris-based Sanofi expects more approvals in coming weeks for the product, called Dengvaxia, in Latin America and Asia, said Olivier Charmeil, who leads Sanofi’s vaccines unit. The injection can thwart all four types of the virus.
“We are making dengue a preventable disease, which makes us incredibly proud,” Charmeil said.
Meanwhile, the number of cases in the dengue fever outbreak on the Big Island rose again Wednesday. Six more confirmed cases were reported, bringing the number of infected to 145, with 128 of them island residents and 17 visitors. Thirty-two cases are children, and 113 adults.
Other companies are developing alternative approaches to frustrate the virus while a handful of vaccine candidates remain under evaluation in clinical trial.
Recently, Honolulu-based Hawaii Biotech Inc. was awarded funding by the U.S. Army for the first phase of developing a dengue vaccine. The research contract is aimed at developing a more protective and faster-working vaccine for military personnel than other vaccine candidates currently in clinical trials. There are three phases, with the clinical trials being the last, before a company can seek regulatory approval.
One of those candidates in clinical trials is Takeda Pharmaceuticals, which has been working on a live attenuated vaccine for the four serotypes of dengue since about 2012.
They viewed news of the potential breakthrough in Mexico as positive.
“Any progress on potential protection against dengue is a step in the right direction,” said Elissa Johnsen, director of Product and Pipeline Communications for Takeda. “We believe that immunization is one of the most effective ways to save lives. As 40 percent of the world’s population lives under the threat of dengue, an effective vaccine may prove to be an important tool in controlling dengue in both endemic and non-endemic countries around the world.”
Dengvaxia, developed during the past 20 years at a cost of $1.65 billion, awaits approval in at least 19 other countries. Mexico’s regulator endorsed it for people between the ages of 9 and 45 living in areas where the disease is endemic.
Charmeil said Sanofi would file for approval in Europe in 2016, and in the U.S. in 2017.
On Hawaii Island, five to seven new cases have been added daily on a fairly consistent basis during the past couple of weeks, although Tuesday no new cases were reported.
Researchers with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently are trapping mosquitoes and trying to gain a better understanding of where the infectious insects are concentrated. New cases continue to occur from Keauhou to south of Hookena and have begun to crop up in South Hilo and Puna.
The state Department of Health also ruled out 477 potential cases since the outbreak was discovered in late October.
It’s not clear whether the vaccine will do anything for the Big Island’s ongoing battle against dengue. The vaccine would have to be approved by the FDA before it could be used here, said CDC spokeswoman Candice Hoffman.
“Takeda also is committed to developing a life-saving dengue vaccine for people around the world,” Johnsen said. “We believe an optimal vaccine would provide protection against all four types of the virus for both children and adults, those living in endemic areas and travelers, as well as those who have and have not had previous exposure to dengue infection.”
West Hawaii Today staff writers Chelsea Jensen and Bret Yager contributed to this report.
