India is on the verge of completing trial stages for its first homegrown dengue vaccine, DengiAll, says Balram Bhargava, ex-director-general of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The vaccine is in phase 3 clinical trials in partnership with Panacea Biotec and ICMR. “India is working on its first home-grown tetravalent dengue vaccine, DengiAll, in phase 3 clinical trials with Panacea Biotec and ICMR. The phase 1 and 2 clinical trials of the Indian vaccine candidate showed encouraging results,” Bhargava told Times of India.
The tests include more than 10,000 healthy adults from 15+ states and union territories. Bhargava did not speculate on the vaccine’s launch but said mid-next year appears plausible. This vaccine will guard against dengue outbreaks, prevalent during the bi-annual monsoon season (May–September) in India, resulting in many deaths.
Dengue fever, a viral infection transmitted by infected mosquitoes (chiefly Aedes aegypti), causes symptoms from mild fever and pain to severe complications such as dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome. There is no specific cure available at present, and treatment aims at symptom control and prevention of complications.
Last August, the US-developed tetravalent dengue vaccine strain (TV003/TV005) of the National Institutes of Health presented promising results in trials across the world. Panacea Biotec leads in the development of vaccines with a process patent. Phase 1 and 2 clinical trials of the Indian formulation were conducted in 2018–19, which presented encouraging results.
Causes of Dengue
Dengue is caused by infection of one of four dengue viruses. After a mosquito bite, the virus enters the blood, multiplies, and causes illness. It destroys blood vessels and causes internal bleeding, resulting in serious dengue complications.
Symptoms of Dengue
Symptoms of dengue occur 4–10 days following a mosquito bite and last for 3–7 days. Severe dengue develops in approximately 1 in 20 cases. Common symptoms are:
- High fever
- Rash
- Severe pain behind the eyes
- Vomiting and nausea
- Pain in the bones, muscles, and joints
