KM Biologics Announces Phase I Clinical Study Results of a Live Attenuated Tetravalent Dengue Vaccine (KD-382)

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KD-382 is a live attenuated tetravalent dengue vaccine that is expected to be effective against all four serotypes with a single dose. As a live attenuated virus vaccine is expected to induce both neutralizing antibodies and cellular immunity, similar to natural infection, the long-term persistence of neutralizing antibodies and low probability of disease enhancement due to antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) can be expected.

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Dengue virus is a mosquito-borne virus belonging to the Flaviviridae family and causes dengue fever, dengue hemorrhagic fever, and dengue shock syndrome in humans. Four serotypes, ranging from type 1 to type 4, are involved in human epidemics. Dengue is endemic in more than 120 countries in tropical and subtropical regions. Approximately 50% of the world’s population, or 3.9 billion people, are at risk of infection, and approximately 100 million people become infected each year. It was estimated that in 2010, 390 million people were infected, and 96 million people required hospitalization and other treatments. In addition, 500,000 people require hospitalization owing to severe illness every year because of dengue fever or dengue hemorrhagic fever, and the annual mortality rate is estimated to be 2.5% (12,500 people) (WHO report).