Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi, announced that the Philippines have granted marketing approval to Dengvaxia®, making it the first vaccine to be licensed for the prevention of dengue in Asia. The Philippines' Food and Drug Administration approved Dengvaxia®,
tetravalent dengue vaccine, for the prevention of disease caused by all
four dengue types in individuals from 9-45 years of age living in
endemic areas.
Dengue fever burden in Asia continues to be the highest globally with an
estimated 67 million people being sickened by the dengue annually.As an urban disease, dengue attacks populations of Asia in the form of
unpredictable outbreaks capable of paralyzing health care systems,
negatively impacting social and economic activity. Asian endemic
countries spend an estimated 6.5 billion USD annually in both direct
medical and indirect costs due to dengue.
Dengue is a major public health priority in tropical and subtropical
countries in Asia and Latin America. Sanofi Pasteur is introducing
Dengvaxia®
first in these countries where the vaccine has the greatest potential
to reduce dengue burden globally and help to achieve the World Health
Organization's goal to reduce dengue mortality by 50% and morbidity by
25% by 2020 in endemic countries. Sanofi Pasteur enrolled over 40,000
participants in extensive safety and clinical efficacy studies conducted
mainly in endemic countries and built a dedicated vaccine production
facility in France to secure adequate quality and quantity supply of the
vaccine to meet endemic country demand upon introduction.
