Sanofi launches new trial for dengue fever

Sanofi-Pasteur has launched a clinical trial in Thailand to test a tetravalent vaccine for dengue fever, the world's second most common tropical disease in children. Adding to the urgency for the program is evidence that dengue fever has been spreading into new parts of the world.

"Large scale pediatric studies are instrumental for the development of a safe and efficacious dengue vaccine to protect against a disease that primarily affects children," said Dr. Pratap Singhasivanon, dean of the Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University. "We are happy to contribute to an important milestone with the actual start of an efficacy study in Ratchaburi."

Out of some 230 new infections each year, about one percent develop dengue hemorrhagic fever. Sanofi CEO Chris Viehbacher said recently that increasing the company's work in vaccines would be a primary focus in the years to come.

- check out Sanofi release

ALSO: Sanofi is also sponsoring a Phase II clinical study of a vaccine against Clostridium difficile, which is among the most common causes of hospital-acquired infection in Europe and North America. Release

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