The Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) congratulates the Instituto Butantan in Brazil for the approval today of its single-dose dengue vaccine by the Brazilian regulatory authority Anvisa. The Term of Commitment for studies and monitoring of the dengue vaccine signed between Anvisa and the Butantan Institute is the final step prior to the vaccine being registered.
‘This news is cause for celebration: it is a fundamental achievement and an additional tool to combat a disease that continues to challenge health systems in many countries,’ said Dr André Siqueira, DNDi’s Head of Dengue Global Programme, who also contributed to the clinical trials for this vaccine. ‘But pregnant women, children under 12, and adults over 60—precisely the most vulnerable groups—will not yet be protected by this vaccine.’
‘Despite advances in the field of prevention and vector control for dengue, there are still no treatments for dengue; these are needed to reduce the pressure on health systems by preventing the disease from progressing to severe forms,’ said Siqueira. ‘It is therefore essential that the fight against dengue be conducted in an integrated, innovative and collaborative manner. We must use all available tools, but also develop new solutions for the most affected countries.’
Siqueira added: ‘Today is also a victory for collaborative research. This vaccine is the result of 15 years of partnership between Instituto Butantan and the US National Institutes of Health. It showcases the power of working together across borders to address one of the most climate-sensitive diseases affecting the world today. In that spirit, DNDi came together with partners to create the Dengue Alliance to foster global collaboration between dengue-endemic countries to develop affordable and accessible treatments.’
About DNDi
The Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) is a not-for-profit medical research organization that discovers, develops, and delivers safe, effective, and affordable treatments for neglected populations. DNDi is developing medicines for sleeping sickness, leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, river blindness, lymphatic filariasis, female genital schistosomiasis, mycetoma, dengue, paediatric HIV, cryptococcal meningitis, and hepatitis C. Its research priorities include children’s health; gender equity and gender-responsive R&D; and diseases impacted by climate change. Since its creation in 2003, DNDi has collaborated with public and private partners worldwide to deliver thirteen new treatments for six deadly diseases, saving millions of lives. dndi.org
Photo credit: Fábio Nascimento-DNDi
