DNDi and our partners are working to tackle the urgent need for treatments that can prevent progression to severe disease. Collaborating with leading public health institutes in the Dengue Alliance, our goal is to accelerate innovation to deliver an affordable and accessible dengue treatment solution, fill knowledge gaps on the burden of dengue in Africa, and identify biomarkers that can accurately predict progression to severe disease.
Our progress in 2025 includes:
Drug discovery
AI-guided discovery: Additional studies concluded and confirmed the validity of sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulators as a valid approach to reducing vascular leakage in in vivo models of dengue infection.
Translational research
Pre-clinical profiling: Dengue Alliance partners continued pre-clinical studies of three host-directed therapy (HDT) candidates for entry into clinical studies. Two candidates entered final in vitro and in vivo studies to confirm their effects and provide the basis for dose selection.
Registration & access
Dengue seroprevalence in Africa and the impact of new control interventions on the global burden: Data generated from completed serological assays on selected samples underwent harmonization and comprehensive analysis. The results were discussed with project partners and partial findings were presented at several scientific conferences and meetings. A manuscript detailing results from study is expected to be submitted for publication in the first quarter of 2026. Further epidemiological studies on dengue and other similar pathogens in eight additional countries are under consideration.
An update of the global age-stratified dengue seroprevalence was performed with the review of dengue seroprevalence and case notification studies published up to 2023. Mathematical modelling of the impact of combinations of interventions against dengue began, along with demand forecasting projections that could guide resource allocation and contribute to more efficient clinical trials for dengue therapeutics.
Photo credit: Luke Duggleby-DNDi
