 |
| English: A typical rash as seen in dengue fever. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
Over the next six months, local medical researchers hope to recruit about 1,200 people for this study, estimated to take about four years to complete.
Professor Leo Yee Sin, clinical director at the Communicable Disease Centre of Singapore, will assist in this clinical trial.
Despite the high level of dengue awareness among health authorities and Singaporeans, the condition remains a complex issue.
In Singapore, there are four known strains of the disease.
According to Prof Leo, a patient immune to one strain is still susceptible to infection by another. So, one objective of the trial is to develop one vaccine capable of fighting against the various dengue strains.
“If proven to be safe and effective, and if it is proven that these vaccines can co-exist with the administering of other vaccines, it will be a feasible and doable solution. Then it can become part of the integrated vaccination programme,” said Prof Leo.
Head of Sanofi’s Clinical Dengue Programme, Dr Melanie Saville, said the company is targeting to develop the vaccine within the next five to six years.
And a priority is to make the dengue vaccine available to endemic countries at affordable prices.
“Cost is something very important in many endemic countries. And our company does have a policy to ensure access of these vaccines to people who most need it,” said Dr Saville, who said tiered pricing was one option that should be looked at in collaboration with governments.
According to the World Health Organisation, there are 1.8 billion people in the Asia-Pacific at risk of dengue fever.
938LIVE
From TODAY, News – Wednesday, 22-April-2009
No comments:
Post a Comment