Yellow Fever Medication Enters Phase 1 Study

TY014 prevents viral replication of yellow fever virus by limiting viral fusion to host cells
medical lab
(Precision Vaccinations News)

A first-in-class medication candidate for the treatment of Yellow Fever received investigatory new drug (IND) regulatory approval from Health Sciences Authority (HSA) of Singapore on November 26, 2018. 

Prior to this announcement, there was no approved biologic or small molecule treatment for the Yellow Fever (YF) virus.

Immediately following the IND approval, the first individuals were dosed with TY014, a monoclonal antibody, on December 6th, in a phase I clinical trial of 67 healthy volunteers. 

TY014 is directed against the envelope (E) protein on the surface of the Yellow Fever virus, and prevents viral replication by limiting viral fusion to host cells. 

"The unprecedented speed with which TY014 advanced from project initiation to clinical testing makes it possible for us to meet the urgent need for an available intervention should a global Yellow Fever crisis erupt,” said Teo Ming Kian, Chairman of the Board, Tychan, in a press release.  

Tychan said it aims to complete safety assessments in time to test efficacy if there is a YF outbreak in early 2019. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), YFV causes an estimated 200,000 infections and 30,000 deaths annually.   

Yellow Fever is a mosquito-borne hemorrhagic disease caused by the Yellow Fever Virus (YFV) that has in the past caused epidemics leading to significant human and economic losses. 

YFV is a single-stranded RNA virus that is genetically related to Dengue, West Nile, Zika and Japanese encephalitis viruses. 

Nearly 15 percent of patients infected with YFV develop life-threatening illness involving hemorrhage, jaundice, and shock. 

Of these infected patients, approximately 30 percent die of their disease, says the CDC. 

On November 23rd, the World Health Organization published updates to the country-based, yellow fever recommendations and certificate requirements. 

For American citizens, the CDC says healthcare providers and patients can visit CDC Travel website for information about which countries require yellow fever vaccination for entry and for which countries the CDC recommends yellow fever vaccination. 

During 2018, a rapid increase in demand from ongoing YF outbreaks has resulted in a shortage of existing vaccines. 

On September 7th, Sanofi Pasteur, the producer of the YF-VAX® (Yellow Fever Vaccine) said it now expects supply to return in the USA by mid-2019. 

Sanofi said in a press release its goal is to support continued access to yellow fever vaccination for travelers to international destinations where yellow fever vaccine is required or recommended, such as Brazil. 

Pharmacists, healthcare providers, and patients can find convenient locations to schedule a travel vaccination appointment by visiting Vax-Before-Travel. 

The CDC has approved the yellow fever vaccine Stamaril in the USA.

The CDC Vaccine Price List provides private sector vaccine prices for general information.

And, vaccine discounts can be found on this webpage.   

Vaccines, like any medicine, can have side effects. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of vaccines to the CDC. 

The phase 1 trial is being administered by SingHealth Investigational Medicine Unit, led by Associate Professor Jenny Low, Senior Consultant, Department of Infectious Diseases, Singapore General Hospital and Co-Director, Viral Research and Experimental Medicine Centre@SingHealth Duke-NUS (ViREMiCS). 

Tychan a Singapore clinical-stage biotechnology company, is focused on bringing life-saving treatments for emerging infections to those in need through disruptive technologies.

 

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