Investe SP in charge of organizing the production of dengue vaccine on a global scale
The intention is to structure an investment model that allows the vaccine to be used in Brazil and dozens of countries after its approval
Investe SP
Investe São Paulo will participate in the development of the investment model required for the production of dengue vaccine on national and global scale. Negotiations in this regard have already been initiated after a determination of the governor Geraldo Alckmin, and on December 14, the president of the agency, Juan Quirós, attended a technical meeting at the Department of Health of the State of São Paulo, convened by the Secretary David Uip to equate the business model.
The intention is to prepare potential partners for the mass production of the vaccine if the phase III tests, announced on Friday, December 11, by Governor Alckmin, prove the effectiveness of the product developed by Butantan Institute. Phase III studies, authorized by Anvisa after the visit of governor Alckmin to Brasília, will involve 17,000 volunteers in 13 cities across 12 Brazilian states and will be monitored by Brazilian and foreign scientists. After proving its effectiveness, it will be the first time in history that a vaccine will be administered, on a single dose, against the four types of dengue virus.
The vaccine tests will be monitored by 14 study centers accredited by Butantan Institute. Out of the 17,000 volunteers, two-thirds will receive the vaccine and one third will receive placebo. The study should include healthy people, individuals who have had dengue or not at some point in life and that fall into three age groups: 2-6 years old; 7-17 years old and 18-59 years old.
The expectation of Butantan Institute and the State Government is to have the vaccine approved and available by 2017 and begin to administer the dose for free to the population. Butantan’s vaccine has been tested in 900 people: 700 in the United States by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and 300 in the city of São Paulo, by the Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo (USP). Tests have proven that it is safe and induces the body to effectively create antibodies against the four types of dengue.