There are licensed vaccines to prevent dengue but no approved antiviral to treat individuals who contract the mosquito-borne infection.In this mid-stage trial of adults hospitalized with dengue, a novel monoclonal antibody significantly reduced viral loads compared with placebo.Patients were also more likely to have their fever clear up in 24 hours with the monoclonal antibody.
An investigational monoclonal antibody targeting dengue virus (Dengue-mAb) safely reduced viral loads and infection symptoms, according to a placebo-controlled phase II trial in India.
Among 249 adults hospitalized with dengue and a history of fever, those randomized to one of four doses of Dengue-mAb achieved significantly greater viral log reductions 24 hours after treatment compared with placebo. The differences in adjusted least squares means were:0.77 lower for 3 mg/kg (P=0.02)1.12 lower for 5 mg/kg (P=0.003)1.16 lower for 7 mg/kg (P<0.001)1.21 lower for 9 mg/kg (P=0.001)
Dengue-mAb, given as a single-dose intravenous infusion, also outperformed placebo when it came to reducing the presence of virus in the blood. Eight hours after treatment, 50% of placebo patients were negative for viremia compared with 71.4% for the 3 mg/kg group and 100% for the three higher-dose groups.
