[Pharm-policy] Thai development of Dengue vaccine

[James Love]

Interesting story regarding development of Dengue vaccine at Mahidol
University.  Aventis apparently has license for commerical production.  

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2000/11/23/asia/2324deng


Interesting 

      Thursday, November 23, 2000

Thais develop world's first dengue
vaccine

CHIANGMAI: Researchers at Mahidol University have developed what is
touted to be the world's first vaccine against dengue fever, an
international conference held here was told yesterday. 

The vaccine, tentatively called DengueVac, is currently being tested in
human trials and could be ready for worldwide distribution as early as
2004. 

"We have been working on the vaccine for the past 11 years and are
confident that it will be ready for global use in 2004 or 2007 at the
latest,'' Prof Natth Bhamarapravati of Mahidol University's Centre for
Vaccine
Development told the conference. 

The university has been working on the vaccine with the support of
pharmaceutical giant Aventis Pasteur Merieux, which specialises in the
development and mass production of vaccines. 

   [snip]

The vaccine will be the first ever to have been developed by a
developing nation such as Thailand. 

   [snip]

Aventis will manufacture the vaccine once it is ready for production. 

For their co-operation efforts, the company will receive from Mahidol
University exclusive production and marketing rights for 20 years in
return for a technology transfer fee. 

The university will also receive royalties, the percentage amount of
which has not been disclosed, if the vaccine is being licensed out to
public health ministries around the globe.--dpa