WHO expert panel recommends use of Sanofi Pasteur’s dengue vaccine in endemic countries

The recommendations were based on the review of data from 25 clinical studies undertaken in 15 different endemic and non-endemic countries across the world.

More than 40,000 volunteers participated in the Sanofi Pasteur dengue vaccine development program, with 29,000 participants receiving the vaccine.

The company completed large-scale efficacy studies of Dengvaxia, including 25-month follow up, in 2014.

Dengvaxia was demonstrated to reduce dengue fever due to all four serotypes in two-thirds of the participants and avoid 8 out of 10 hospitalizations and nearly 93% of severe dengue cases.

Sanofi president of global R&D Elias Zerhouni said: "Dengvaxia has been approved in four countries already, including Mexico and Brazil, which have regulatory authorities recognized by the WHO.

"These WHO SAGE recommendations further validate the scientific and medical value of Dengvaxia and send a clear message to endemic countries about the strong public health benefit to be gained by introducing the dengue vaccine in integrated disease management efforts to combat their dengue burden."

As of March this year, Dengvaxia was licensed in Mexico, the Philippines, Brazil and El Salvador to prevent dengue from all four serotypes in individuals 9-45 years of age living in endemic areas.

Sanofi said regulatory review processes for the vaccine are continuing in other countries where dengue is a public-health priority.

Both public and private vaccinations have already started in the Philippines and negotiations are underway in the other approval countries for launches later this year.