Dengue vaccines: state of the art

Importance of the field: Dengue is a significant public health problem transcending geographical boundaries to place nearly 50% of the global population at risk. A vaccine to prevent dengue is an unmet need that should be addressed urgently. Areas covered in the review: A brief introduction to dengue and a detailed review of the classical and modern approaches being undertaken currently to develop dengue vaccines described in recent patent literature, highlighting the inherent hurdles and challenges. What the reader will gain: An understanding of the approaches being deployed to develop multiple viral and non-viral vaccine candidates and an appreciation of the complexity of developing dengue vaccines. Take home message: Live viral vaccines, which have advanced to clinical trials, have revealed new challenges, emphasizing the need to pursue non-viral alternatives simultaneously.