“Join the Fight Against Dengue: Phase 3 Enrollment for India’s First Vaccine Expected to Conclude by October, Says ICMR”

New Delhi: About 10,500 people are set to join a Phase III clinical trial for DengiAll, a dengue vaccine by Panacea Biotec. This trial, led by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), will take place at 20 centers across India and is expected to wrap up enrollment by October.

Currently, 8,000 participants from cities like Pune, Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi, and Bhubaneswar have already received either the vaccine or a placebo. Dr. Manoj Murhekar, Director at the National Institute of Epidemiology, noted that earlier trials showed no safety concerns. This final phase aims to assess the vaccine’s effectiveness over two years.

Dengue is a significant health issue in India, with no licensed vaccine or antiviral treatments available. The challenge in creating a dengue vaccine lies in its four distinct serotypes (1-4), which don’t effectively protect against each other. This means that people can get dengue more than once, posing a risk in areas where all serotypes coexist.

Interestingly, a strain developed by the National Institutes of Health in the USA has shown promise in trials, including those in Brazil. Panacea Biotec is one of the few Indian companies working on this strain, progressing toward a robust vaccine formulation.

Dengue’s reach is alarming. The World Health Organization reported that over 129 countries are affected. In India, around 75-80% of dengue infections are asymptomatic, meaning individuals can still spread the virus through Aedes mosquito bites. Among the cases that do show symptoms, children face higher hospitalization risks.

Recent statistics reveal a rise in dengue cases, with about 12,000 reported by March this year and a projected 230,000 infections along with 297 fatalities in 2024. This underscores the urgent need for effective prevention measures.

As the trial continues, the potential of a dengue vaccine could significantly improve public health, particularly in densely populated areas where the disease is rampant.

For further information, you can explore resources from the World Health Organization.

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ICMR, INDIA FIRST DENGUE VACCINE, PANACEA BIOTEC, DENGUE VACCINE, PHASE-3 CLINICAL TRIAL ENROLMENT FOR INDIA'S FIRST DENGUE VACCINE TO BE COMPLETED BY OCTOBER: ICMR