DengiAll

India's progress with the DengiAll vaccine is a major development in the global fight against dengue, and it highlights the country's growing capability in the field of indigenous vaccine development.

DengiAll: The Indigenous Tetravalent Dengue Vaccine

Development and Collaboration:

• Developer: The vaccine is developed by Panacea Biotec Limited under a licensing agreement with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), USA.

• Composition: DengiAll is a tetravalent vaccine, meaning it targets all four types of dengue virus (DENV). It uses a weakened form of the four virus subtypes, with the same virus composition as the vaccine developed by the NIH but with different inactive ingredients.

Clinical Trial Phases:

• Phase I & II Trials: Initial trials conducted in India showed that the vaccine elicited a balanced and robust immune response against all four types of dengue. The vaccine was also found to be safe and well-tolerated in participants.

  Phase III Trial: India has recently reached the 50% enrolment mark for the Phase III clinical trial, which aims to test the efficacy, immunogenicity, and safety of DengiAll. The trial is being carried out in collaboration with several institutes, including those under the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

ICMR Institutes Involved:

• The ICMR-National Institute of Translational Virology (NITVAR) and ICMR-National AIDS Research Institute (NARI) are playing key roles in trial coordination.

  These institutes will ensure that the vaccine's performance and safety are rigorously tested across diverse populations.

Key Facts About Dengue

What is Dengue?

• Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection that occurs mostly in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly in urban and semi-urban areas.

Transmission:

• The disease is transmitted to humans via the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes carrying one of the four types of dengue virus (DENV).

  Dengue is not contagious from person to person, except in rare cases where it is passed from a pregnant person to their child.

Symptoms:

• Common symptoms include:

  • High fever

  • Headache

  • Body aches

  • Nausea

  • Rash

  Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF): A small proportion of patients may experience severe symptoms leading to Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever, which is life-threatening.

Treatment:

• There is no specific antiviral treatment for dengue.

  Supportive care is provided to manage symptoms, particularly focusing on pain relief and fever reduction.

Significance of DengiAll's Development

1. Indigenous Vaccine: This marks a significant step towards self-reliance in vaccine production, with India taking a leading role in the development of a tetravalent dengue vaccine.

2. Global Health Impact: Dengue is a major health concern in many parts of the world. A successful vaccine can greatly reduce the burden of the disease, especially in endemic regions.

3. Efforts in Vaccine Development: This project reflects India's ability to develop cutting-edge medical technology in collaboration with global research bodies like NIH, making it an important milestone for Indian scientific innovation.

Conclusion

The DengiAll vaccine trial's success could be a game-changer in the global fight against dengue. The Phase III trial is crucial for determining whether the vaccine can provide long-term protection against all four dengue virus types. India's indigenous capabilities in vaccine development are growing, and DengiAll represents a significant leap toward reducing the public health threat posed by dengue.