A Takeda vaccine for dengue appears effective, but the story is nuanced

In the wake of controversy over a Sanofi dengue vaccine, Takeda Pharmaceuticals is betting its own effort will meet a largely unmet medical need and, in the process, become a best-selling product. But preliminary results released on Wednesday suggest the company has more work to do to ensure its vaccine does not encounter the same problems that have hobbled its rival.

A key hurdle Takeda must clear is to demonstrate that its own vaccine is not hindered by an issue that has clouded Sanofi’s Dengvaxia vaccine, which can actually make future cases of the mosquito-borne virus more severe in people who were not previously infected. After this finding was disclosed two years ago, a widespread vaccination campaign run by the Philippine government was abruptly halted amid scandal. Sanofi has struggled ever since to make a success of the product.

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