BPOM Supports Development of Indonesia-China mRNA Dengue Vaccine

The Indonesian Food and Drug Monitoring Agency (BPOM) has stated that the mRNA-based dengue vaccine being developed by the University of Indonesia and Tsinghua University will not only help Indonesia but also improve global health. BPOM Head Taruna Ikrar said in Jakarta on Wednesday that globally, around 390 million people are infected with the dengue virus each year. Data from the Ministry of Health shows that in Indonesia, 161,000 people are infected annually, with 700 dying from the disease. “This is an important discovery, and we can develop many more,” Taruna said at the launch of the mRNA Dengue Vaccine Prototype. He explained that mRNA technology has several advantages, being more stable, efficacious, advanced, and easy to develop. Although the vaccine is not yet complete, he stated that this discovery is a crucial first step. Taruna expressed hope that the collaboration would help tackle the disease worldwide. “I believe the collaboration between two great universities and institutions around the world, including the University of Indonesia and Tsinghua University, will yield successful results,” he said. He also appreciated the parties involved for including BPOM in the vaccine’s development from the beginning, allowing the agency to better understand the standards, methods, and characteristics to support the project more precisely. “We are making history. This is the world’s first mRNA vaccine for dengue fever,” he added. Pre-clinical trial results showed that the neutralising antibody titres against the dengue virus, particularly for the Indonesian strains of serotypes 1, 2, 3, and 4, were far better than those of existing commercial vaccines. Director of the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP), Ayom Widipaminto, said his agency, along with PT Etana, is funding the project, with LPDP providing IDR 7 billion and PT Etana IDR 9 billion. He stated the LPDP is ready to continue funding to ensure Indonesia obtains the necessary vaccines and health equipment.