MVC co-organized international forum for dengue prevention and vaccine development


MVC co-hosted international Dengue Forum “Fighting Dengue Fever – Vaccine Intervention” with TRPMA (Taiwan Research-based Biopharmaceutical Manufacturers Association) on September 18th in World Trade Center Club.

Premier of Executive Yuan, William Lai, delivered opening remark saying that mosquito control has its limitation, whereas vaccine is more effective in dengue eradication. Taiwan government will follow the successful experience of Hep-B mass-vaccination program and continue to support vaccine development.

Many internationally renowned public-health experts and dengue scientists were invited to discuss vaccine development and challenges of product registration in ASEAN. The experts included Dr. Michael Malison, professor from Emory University, Dr. Steve Hsu-Sung Kuo, current Ambassador-at-Large, Dr. Yoon In-Kyu from GDAC (Global Dengue and Aedes-transmitted Diseases Consortium), inventors of dengue vaccine: Dr. Stephen Whitehead from US NIH (National Institute of Health) and Professor Anna Durbin from Johns Hopkins University, Dr. John Deng from MVC, Dr. Han Bosch from Free University in Amsterdam, Dr. Kang Jaw-Jou, dean of Yang-Ming University and Dr. Lin Chi-Lui from Taiwan CDE.

Due to climate change and globalization, dengue has become major public health problem in South East Asia, including Taiwan. The consecutive dengue outbreaks in 2014 and 2015 claimed 233 lives in Taiwan, making dengue vaccine development a priority for both the government and pharmaceutical industries.

MVC entered into a licensing agreement with US NIH to develop, make, sell and sublicense NIH’s live attenuated dengue vaccine in 26 countries, including Taiwan, South East Asia, South Asia, Middle East, , Korea and Australia covering over 1/3 global population in areas of highest dengue incidence rate.

MVC is planning to initiate phase 2 and phase 3 clinical trials in Taiwan and in South East Asia, and hopefully through the New Southbound Policy to speed up dengue vaccine registration in different countries.


Premier of Executive Yuan, William Lai, (front, 6th from the right) with speakers in international Dengue forum “Fighting Dengue Fever – Vaccine Intervention” on Sep. 18, 2017 in Taipei.