V181 Live Attenuated Quadrivalent Dengue Vaccine Candidate June 2025
Merck's V181 is a single-dose, live attenuated quadrivalent vaccine currently being investigated for the prevention of dengue disease caused by any of the four dengue virus types (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4). V181. It is being studied in phase 3 clinical research (MOBILIZE-1) in individuals to protect against dengue, including severe forms, regardless of whether the individuals have been previously infected with the dengue virus or had no prior infections. The V181-005 study is planned to include more than 30 trial sites in dengue-endemic areas in the Asia-Pacific region, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Merck, based in New Jersey, is known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada.
V181 Dengue Vaccine Indication
As of June 20, 2025, significant dengue outbreaks have been reported this year in the Region of the Americas and the Pacific Region. The second-generation QDENGA vaccine is reported to have a limited supply in 2025.
V181 Dengue Vaccine News
June 18, 2025 – MSD announced the initiation of the MOBILIZE-1 Phase 3 clinical trial in Singapore.
June 12, 2025 - Dr. Paula Annunziato, senior vice president, infectious diseases and vaccines, global clinical development, Merck Research Laboratories. “The initiation of the MOBILIZE-1 study, the first Phase 3 trial in our clinical development program, marks a key milestone in our work to help address this widespread mosquito-borne disease. If successful, V181 could provide an important single-dose option for at-risk populations, regardless of previous exposure to dengue, to help reduce the significant burden around the globe.”
December 12, 2018 - Merck and Instituto Butantan, Sao Paulo, Brazil, announced a collaboration agreement to develop vaccines to protect against the dengue virus disease
V181 Dengue Vaccine Clinical Trials
ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT07013487 - A Study to Evaluate V181 Dengue Vaccine in Healthy Participants 2 to 17 Years of Age (V181-005/MOBILIZE-1). Sponsor Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC. Last Update Posted 2025-06-12.
The study's primary endpoints are safety and efficacy of a single dose of V181 in preventing symptomatic virologically confirmed dengue (VCD) of any severity, due to any of the four dengue serotypes, regardless of prior dengue exposure. The key secondary efficacy endpoint is evaluating a single dose of V181 in preventing symptomatic VCD of any severity due to each of the four dengue serotypes, regardless of prior dengue exposure. Additional secondary endpoints include evaluating a single dose of V181 in preventing symptomatic VCD with warning signs, severe VCD, and hospitalization.