In December 2018, the Butantan Institute of Brazil signed a technology transfer agreement with the U.S. pharmaceutical company Merck Sharp and Dhome (MSD) to assist the Brazilian institute in developing and exporting a dengue vaccine.
The agreement includes $25 million paid upfront, making the transaction the largest of its kind in the history of the Brazilian pharmaceutical industry. The institute, linked to the São Paulo State Health Department, may also receive up to $101 million for research and production of the vaccine.
An amount of R$ 120 million from the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) allowed the Butantan Institute to develop the
dengue vaccine — currently in its third phase of clinical research, meaning human testing. This is the final phase before the registration request. The BNDES resources also enabled the institute to create an innovative lyophilization method, with patents granted in several countries.
The process transforms the vaccine into powder, to be reconstituted before application, reducing storage costs and facilitating transport, so that more people can be served, especially those living farther away.
The contract with the Butantan Institute stipulates the transfer of five percent of the revenues from the agreement, including the commercialization of the vaccine to be developed by MSD abroad. On the other hand, the vaccine may be made available free of charge to Brazilians in public hospitals due to its exclusivity rights in Brazil.