A Potential Dengue Vaccine May Be FDA-Approved by 2024, Says Health Secretary
MANILA, Philippines — In a recent statement, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa announced that a new vaccine for dengue, known as TAK-003, developed by Japanese pharmaceutical company Takeda, may receive approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by 2024. The vaccine has already been prequalified by the World Health Organization.
During a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon pre-Sona special, Herbosa disclosed, “I talked to them last year and they also already applied for a CPR, the registration for our FDA. So, all we’re waiting for is the FDA. The FDA will still study the requirements they submitted and when it’s approved, it will come.”
Speaking about the timeline for FDA approval, Herbosa mentioned that the usual process takes about a year. Therefore, if the application was submitted last year, approval could be expected sometime this year.
While discussing the ongoing efforts to combat dengue, Herbosa emphasized that vector control remains the most effective solution for preventing the spread of the disease. He highlighted measures such as eliminating mosquito breeding grounds, using insect repellents, and conducting fogging or spraying in local hotspots or outbreak areas.
Herbosa added, “The solution is not a vaccine, but vector control… this is the important solution to dengue during the rainy season, because even if you vaccinate a lot of people, it’s useless because you need two doses. So, our solution to our current dengue season is not a vaccine, but vector control.”
In addition to existing vector control strategies, the Department of Health (DOH) is considering implementing the “Wolbachia program,” a type of vector control used in Indonesia that involves deliberately spreading a certain bacteria among mosquitoes to prevent dengue infection.
The DOH had previously warned the public of a potential increase in dengue cases during the rainy season and reported a 15 percent rise in infections this year, totaling 77,688 cases as of June 15 compared to the previous year.
As the authorities continue to address the challenges posed by dengue, the potential FDA approval of a new vaccine offers hope for better prevention and control of the disease in the future.
