DoP assures faster clearance for dengue vaccine

The Department of Pharmaceuticals will give all clearances on an urgent basis to dengue vaccine developed by any firm, Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said today. At present, there is no dengue vaccine in India. Yesterday, it was reported that Serum Institute of India was planning to seek approval to launch a drug to treat dengue virus.

According to reports, Serum has obtained rights from US-based Biotech Visterra to sell its dengue vaccine Monoclonal Antibody, VIS513. "...our government is sensible towards dengue virus, we are keeping a close watch on the prices of other medicines required for the treatment of the disease," Ahir said here while launching the revamped website of Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP). "If any company approaches our department for whatever clearances or any other approvals required for any dengue medicine, we will try to give it approval as early as possible, once cleared by the Health Ministry," Ahir told PTI.

Meanwhile, Delhi is in the grip of its worst Dengue outbreak in five years. Till Monday 25 deaths were reported and 4,000 people affected from the disease. Dengue spreads through infected Aedes or the tiger mosquitoes biting people.

Most patients recover and on a minuscule number die from dengue. Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry has issued an advisory to Delhi government to "intensify" measures to check the breeding of mosquitoes.