First phase of malaria vaccine trials end

Though scientists at the ICGEB, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, in the Capital, confirmed the first phase of the human clinical trials of Malaria vaccine and the pre-clinical research of 'Dengue' vaccine have been completed, Delhiites have little cause to cheer. This is because both the vaccines undergoing trials will take several years to reach the counters.

"The MVDP (Malaria Vaccine Development Programme) jointly setup with the Department of Biotechnology, has been working on these trials for over a decade now but it is still in early stages. It will take years for it to reach the people," said Doctor Dinakar Salunke, Director, ICGEB.

While the malaria vaccine has done some trials on humans, the dengue vaccine and tablet have only just finished their pre-clinical stages and have been transferred to Sun Pharma for the next round of research and trials.

"We have completed pre-clinical research work for Dengue in mice and monkeys. Most vaccines that are being prepared have live attenuated virus but the drug research that we are working on has recombinant virus-like particles which resemble viruses but do not carry the DNA/genetic code with it," said Dr Navin Khanna, Recombinant Gene Products Leader, ICGEB.

The laboratory is researching for both tablets and injectable vaccines for dengue, where the tablets will be made from a botanical drug based on a plant called 'Cissampelos Pareira'. It was found that the extract from this plant can destroy the virus without any side-effects.