Sun Pharma collaborates with ICGEB to develop affordable dengue vaccine

Sun Pharma, an Indian multinational pharmaceutical company, has announced a collaboration with the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) to develop a new dengue vaccine aimed at being safer, more effective, and more affordable than existing vaccines. This initiative marks the second collaboration between Sun Pharma and ICGEB, building on their earlier partnership to develop the botanical drug Cipa.

New Developments in Dengue Prevention

The latest vaccine, targeting all four serotypes of the dengue virus, promises to enhance the effectiveness of dengue prevention, particularly in endemic regions known for high dengue prevalence, such as many third-world countries where public sanitation remains suboptimal.

Kirti Ganorkar, Executive Vice President and Head of Sun Pharma, expressed the significance of this partnership: “Our new collaboration with ICGEB for developing an affordable dengue vaccine is part of our broader commitment to developing new and improved vaccines and drugs against flaviviruses that are of significant health importance to India and the rest of the world.”

Technological Advancements and Clinical Development

The ICGEB has developed a tetravalent dengue vaccine using tailored recombinant virus-like-particle (VLP) technology, which encompasses the host-receptor binding domain of the envelope protein from all four DENV serotypes. Dr. Salunke, Director of ICGEB, emphasized the challenges in developing a safe and effective dengue vaccine despite recent advances: “The development of a safe, affordable and efficacious dengue vaccine still faces major challenges… our pre-clinical data is very encouraging, and this could be an ideal dengue vaccine candidate for all target populations.”

Funding and Future Prospects

Sun Pharma will handle the funding and further development of the vaccine candidate, leveraging its substantial annual investment in research and development, which totals about $300 million. In addition, ICGEB will grant Sun Pharma exclusive rights and licenses for the development and commercialization of the vaccine globally, with predefined royalty and milestone payments.

The collaboration between Sun Pharma and ICGEB represents a critical step towards addressing global health challenges associated with dengue. By focusing on affordability and effectiveness, the vaccine could significantly impact dengue prevention strategies worldwide, especially in the most vulnerable populations.