Experimental dengue vaccine protects against 3 of 4 viral strains, study results show

"The world's first vaccine against dengue fever, being developed by French drugmaker Sanofi SA, protected against three of the virus's four strains in a keenly awaited clinical trial in Thailand," the company announced on Wednesday, Reuters reports (Hirschler/Regan, 7/25). "The vaccine actually generated antibody responses against all four strains of the virus, but for some reason, one strain was still able to infect children who received the vaccine, the company said, and scientists are now trying to figure out why," the Los Angeles Times' "Science Now" blog reports, adding, "Meanwhile, a much larger trial involving 31,000 adults and children is now under way in 10 countries in Asia and Latin America" (Maugh, 7/26). Reuters notes, "Other drug companies are also working on dengue vaccines but Sanofi's product is several years ahead" (7/25).