Sanofi Launches First Public Dengue Immunization Program

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines and global business unit of Sanofi, announced on April 4, 2016 that it has launched the first public dengue immunization program in the Philippines. Sanofi’s dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia (CYD-TDV), is the first vaccine to be licensed for dengue in Asia, according to a press announcement from the company.

Sanofi says the public immunization program will vaccinate one million students from 6000 public schools in dengue-epidemic regions of the Philippines. According to the company, the vaccine’s anticipated impact on dengue is expected to stem from its ability to prevent 8 out of 10 dengue hospitalizations and up to 93% of severe dengue, including hemorrhagic dengue fever.

Dengvaxia is a tetravalent vaccine for the prevention of disease caused by all four dengue types in individuals from 9–45 years of age. The Philippines’ Food and Drug Administration approved Dengvaxia on December 22, 2016. The vaccine is also approved in Mexico, Brazil, and El Salvador. According to a report in the Financial Times, the French drug maker has invested €1.5 billion (US$1.71 billion) into the development of the vaccine.

Dengue has been an ongoing public health concern in the Asia-Pacific region. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 75% of the global population exposed to dengue is in the Asia-Pacific region. Dengue epidemics can lead to suffering, strained health services, and economic losses. WHO hopes to successfully reduce the mortality from dengue by 2020 by at least 50%.

In a press announcement, Sanofi said it is working closely with the Philippines government to facilitate introduction of the vaccine. The company said it also plans to monitor the impact of the vaccination in the country through a post-marketing communication and surveillance plan.

Source: Sanofi Pasteur