Current status, of the Arilvax™ yellow fever vaccine

Yellow fever is a viral hemorrhagic fever that involves dysfunction of the liver and kidneys. There is no antiviral therapy available and vaccination is a major strategy in the control of this important public health problem. Yellow fever vaccine is a live attenuated vaccine, strain 17D, which is very safe and efficacious and induces long-term protective immunity in vaccinees. The vaccine is produced by six manufacturers worldwide, including Arilvax™ by Chiron vaccines (CA, USA) that is marketed in at least ten countries. Acambis (MA, USA) have acquired the rights to sell and market Arilvax™ in the USA, and have undertaken three clinical trials to obtain data for a Biological License Application that should proceed in 2005.