Indonesia and China Develop World's First mRNA Dengue Vaccine

mRNA technology, previously known for combating the Covid-19 virus, is now being developed for the first time in medical history to fight the dengue virus. The vaccine, which utilises genetic material (preM-E gene) from a native Indonesian strain of the dengue virus, is the result of joint research between the University of Indonesia (UI), Tsinghua University (China), and PT Etana Biotechnologies Indonesia. This momentum marks a significant milestone for the independence of the national vaccine industry. If successful, the product will be the world’s first mRNA vaccine for dengue fever and will become the sixth antigen that Indonesia can produce from upstream to downstream. “If this succeeds, it will be one of the new vaccines produced in Indonesia with the most advanced technology. We must thank our Indonesian researchers who have proven themselves equal to world researchers,” said Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin on Thursday (9/7). This acceleration initiative is a lesson learned from the Covid-19 pandemic, when Indonesia lacked access to emergency medical supplies such as vaccines, therapeutic tools, and diagnostics. Budi explained that since the 2020-2022 period, the government has been determined to build its own research facilities. From initially having only one vaccine company, Indonesia now has four: Bio Farma, Biotis, Etana, and JBio. Of the 16 types of antigens required for the national routine immunisation programme, 11 can currently be produced locally. Five of these are produced independently from upstream research to manufacturing, while the other six are still limited to assembly or final formulation because raw materials are imported from China and India. “My target is that before 2030, the remaining 11 antigens must be fully produced from upstream to downstream,” he stressed. The selection of dengue as a priority is based on the high incidence rate in Indonesia. Ministry of Health data records approximately 151,000 dengue cases annually with 650 deaths. This places it among the diseases with the highest burden, alongside tuberculosis (1 million cases, 125,000 deaths), HIV (570,000 cases, 25,000 deaths), and malaria (520,000 cases, 132 deaths). “We prioritise new vaccine development based on the highest burden of incidence and mortality. Mothers certainly do not want their children to receive too many types of injections, so we choose the real priorities,” Budi explained. He called on all Indonesian scientists and researchers to turn research results into life-saving products, not just scientific publications. The collaboration was initiated in 2023. Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Stella Christie, revealed that while she was still a professor, she connected the UI research team with Professor Zhang Linqi of Tsinghua University, one of the world’s leading vaccine experts. “Almost all effective vaccines in the world are born from university research. This model of cooperation is important; we did not sign an MoU first and then work, but rather started working together seriously first, then the MoU followed. Needs analysis, budget support, and ministry commitment must all go hand in hand,” she stated.