An overview of current technologies in the development of drugs and vaccines against dengue virus

Dengue virus (DENV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus with four distinct serotypes (DENV-1 to DENV-4) and is endemic in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. It can cause a range of illnesses, from self-resolving dengue fever to severe dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome. Dengue fever is a major public health hazard in tropical and subtropical areas. Advances in treatment and prevention have mainly focused on developing vaccines and antiviral medications. Currently, no treatment for dengue fever works for everyone. While some antiviral candidates are in clinical trials, most remain in preclinical or early research stages. Regarding vaccinations, the WHO has approved or prequalified two live-attenuated options: TAK-003 (Qdenga®) and Dengvaxia® (CYD-TDV). However, both vaccines have drawbacks, including limited effectiveness across serotypes and safety issues in seronegative individuals. Current research aims to elucidate the complex host immune responses that underlie dengue pathogenesis and vaccine-induced protection, to develop more effective treatments and preventive measures. Critically, most approaches remain at the experimental or preclinical stage and require further clinical evaluation.