Advancing dengue vaccine development: Challenges, innovations, and the path toward global protection

Area of Science:

• Medical Entomology
• Vaccinology
• Global Health

Background:

• Dengue fever is a major global health concern, affecting nearly half the world's population.
• Developing an effective dengue vaccine is complex due to challenges like antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE), serotype-specific efficacy, and delivery logistics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive review of dengue vaccine development, covering historical and current progress.
• To analyze the efficacy, safety, and limitations of leading dengue vaccines: CYD-TDV, TAK-003, and Butantan-DV.
• To identify future research directions for improved dengue vaccine strategies.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and analysis of published data on dengue vaccine candidates.
• Examination of clinical trial results and real-world effectiveness studies.
• Assessment of vaccine performance concerning balanced quadrivalent protection and safety profiles.

Main Results:

• Current dengue vaccines exhibit varying efficacy and safety profiles, with limitations in achieving universal protection.
• Antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) remains a significant concern impacting vaccine effectiveness.
• CYD-TDV, TAK-003, and Butantan-DV represent key advancements but require further optimization.

Conclusions:

• Sustained investment and global collaboration are essential for advancing dengue vaccine development.
• Future research should focus on mitigating ADE, exploring novel vaccine platforms, and tailoring formulations to specific regions.
• Integrating vaccination into comprehensive dengue prevention strategies is critical for global control.