New Delhi based Panacea Biotec has reaffirmed its intention to come out with a vaccine against Dengue virus. The vaccine will be effective against all the four strains of Dengue virus and would cater to adult and children, Rajesh Jain, joint managing director, Panacea Biotec informed.

Speaking on the occasion of a seminar on "Challenges in Prevention and Management of Dengue" on 17th October 2006 at Delhi, he said that it would take another two to three years or so for the vaccine to get into the market, depending upon clearance from regulatory authorities. "The vaccine has been licensed to us by NIH, USA and is in the process of development. It will be effective against all the four strains of Dengue virus and would cater to adult and children."

Dengue is a deadly disease carried by the Aedes mosquito that can cause fever, chills and skeletal pain. Some 2500 million people (2/5 of the world's population) are now at risk from dengue. As per World Health Organization (WHO) estimate, there may be 50 million cases of Dengue infection worldwide every year.

Panacea has registered turnover of Rs 5480 million during FY2006. The product portfolio of the company includes highly innovative prescription products in important therapeutic areas such as pain management, diabetes management, cardiovascular management, renal-disease management, osteoporosis management, anti-tubercular, gastro-intestinal care products and vaccines. The company has collaborations and tie-ups with leading national and international research organizations and corporations.