Production of a dengue vaccine could cost mere pocket change, according to an economic analysis completed by the Dengue Vaccine Initiative, a consortium that works on access to dengue vaccines in impacted areas. Producing a tetravalent dengue vaccine may cost as little as 20 cents per dose, with an annual production level of 60 million doses packaged in 10-dose vials, according to News-Medical.
Of course, cost of production is only one component when it comes to pricing a vaccine. The final cost encompasses prior R&D, obtaining regulatory approval, marketing and distribution, start-up expenses and more. A dengue vaccine will likely cost much more initially, when demand may be low, according to the article.
The economic analysis used data on a vaccine developed by the U.S. National Institutes of Health and facilities of the Instituto Butantan in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
"The cost of a vaccine is one of the most important factors affecting its adoption and uptake," Richard Mahoney of the DVI told News-Medical. Mahoney co-authored the report, published in Vaccine. "Our goal with this study was to determine the baseline expenses for the vaccine's production. We believe the results should help pave the way for the rapid introduction and distribution of a dengue vaccine once licensed," he said.
Dengue fever is a virus-caused disease spread through mosquitoes and is caused by one of four different, but related, viruses.
- read the News-Medical story