Sanofi Pasteur joins with Paediatric Dengue Vaccine Initiative

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccine-producing subsidiary of Sanofi-Aventis, has entered into a new partnership with the Paediatric Dengue Vaccine Initiative (PDVI) to create a new vaccine for dengue fever.

Like malaria, dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease that primarily affects children, causing haemorrhagic fever and shock. Sanofi Pasteur claims that the disease afflicts up to 100 million people each year, making it the world’s second most common tropical disease after malaria.

Despite the prevalence of the disease in tropical and subtropical regions, there have been reports of new cases in the Middle East and northern Australia, as well as in Texas and Hawaii.

Dave Williams, chief executive of Sanofi Pasteur, remarked: “Our goal is to make Dengue a vaccine preventable disease.”

“This partnership will help focus the attention of the immunisation community on this debilitating disease that requires a strong commitment from all health partners,” he added.

Sanofi Pasteur claims to be at the forefront of dengue vaccine development, having started a research and development programme in the 1990s. Its lead vaccine candidate is currently in phase II testing.

In the last week, there have been concerns in India about the increasing number of people falling ill to the disease. The Indian government has claimed that the situation is under control and does not constitute an epidemic.