ID :
198843
Wed, 08/03/2011 - 05:56
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/198843
The shortlink copeid
Seoul-based U.N. institute to develop dengue vaccine
SEOUL (Yonhap) - The International Vaccine Institute (IVI) has signed an agreement with a U.S. firm to develop a vaccine for dengue, a mosquito-borne infection that causes severe fever and flu-like symptoms, the Seoul-based U.N. agency said Wednesday.
The move follows IVI's launch of a US$6.9-million Dengue Vaccine Initiative at the beginning of the year.
Under the memorandum of understanding with the Colorado-based Inviragen Inc., the IVI will seek to develop "a dengue vaccine widely accessible to people in countries where the disease is endemic," it said.
Currently, about 3.6 billion people, over half of the world's population, in 120 countries are at risk of contracting the tropical disease while no specific treatment or reliable prevention method exists, the IVI said in a released statement.
"A safe, effective and affordable dengue vaccine would represent a powerful tool against this major public health threat," it said.
The move follows IVI's launch of a US$6.9-million Dengue Vaccine Initiative at the beginning of the year.
Under the memorandum of understanding with the Colorado-based Inviragen Inc., the IVI will seek to develop "a dengue vaccine widely accessible to people in countries where the disease is endemic," it said.
Currently, about 3.6 billion people, over half of the world's population, in 120 countries are at risk of contracting the tropical disease while no specific treatment or reliable prevention method exists, the IVI said in a released statement.
"A safe, effective and affordable dengue vaccine would represent a powerful tool against this major public health threat," it said.
