Ministry of Science announces successful development of first dengue vaccine

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) December 15, 2011 -- On February 21st 2011, Dr. Weerachai Weerametheekul, the minister of Science and Technology, with Dr. Thaweesak Koanathakul, of the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), the presidents of Chiang Mai and Mahidol universities, announced publicly this important breakthrough and the agreement to develop and produce a dengue vaccine to protect the people of the world.

The project to develop a dengue vaccine was initiated in 2000 by Assoc. Professor Dr. Nopporn Sitthisombat, and Dr. Poonsuk Keelapang of Chiang Mai University and the Network Technology of Biomedical Sciences Research Unit, Department of Genetic Engineering and Technology, and research teams of Mahidol University led by Assoc. Professor Dr. Suthee Yoksan . Together, they have successfully created and tested four serotypes of the dengue vaccine Chemeric Live - attenceated.

Dengue has been a major killer, and after more than 30 years of rigorous development of a dengue vaccine to combat the four strains to prevent being subjected to recurring infections Thus, this new vaccine will be an important medication to prevent epidemics from occurring.